Car-driving Breaches

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 230, 30 September 1935, Page 6

Car-driving Breaches

A CORRECTION. Some misapprehension exists concerning the Press Association message relating to a case of a woman who was convicted by Palmerston North Justices on a charge of being drunk while in charge of a car, and had her name suppressed. Tho message indicates that in certain districts Magistrates give directions that such cases be adjourned for hearing before a Magistrate, and that the} should not lie taken by Justices. The inference was that this was not done in Palmerston Norrli.

Inquiry shows, howc\cr, that this practice was adopted by the local Magistrate (Mr. J. L. Stout), who caused a written notification to this effect to be forwarded to tho police some considerable time ago. It is stated further that in the present case under review, the clerk of Court drew the attention of both the police and the Justices to the previous .direction of the Magistrate, and it was understood that the police would apply for an adjournment to have the ease heard before tho Magistrate. This, however, was not done as tho police understood counsel for the woman would oppose the adjournment on the grounds that she lived in the country, making a further journey into the city necessary if an adjournment were granted.