Prosecution Dismissed

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 159, 9 July 1935, Page 6

Prosecution Dismissed

CHARGE OF FAILING TO SUPPLY INFORMATION.

Before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., at tliu Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Arthur Douglas Webster, of Otaki, for whom Mr. L. M. Abraham appeared, pleaded not guilty to a charge that, being the owner of a motor-car, and on being informed that an offence had been committed by the driver of such vehicle, he failed to give all information in his possession which might lead to identification of the driver.

Mr. W. Berry (traffic inspector for the Manawatu County Council) said that someone had driven defendant’s car in a manner which might have been dangerous. Defendant had been in Australia at the time and the speaker had written to him, asking for information, receiving a reply that he would notify Mr. Berry when he got back to New Zealand. However, on defendant’s return, no information had been forthcoming as to who had been driving the car. Mr. Abraham said the car had been left locked up and no one had any authority to use it while defendant was away.' When defendant received Mr. Berry’s letter in Australia, ho replied to it and said he would make inquiries on his return. When ho got back, he did so, but there was a general denial from his employees, which fact lie had communicated to Mr. Berry. Counsel submitted that defendant had given all the information he could. After hearing evidence, his Worship dismissed the information, saying that the Act did riot mean that a man who had been absent from the Dominion had to act as a private detective on his Teturn. "I am instructed by the Automobile Association to ask for costs,” said Mr. Abraham.

Tho application was not granted.