Intoxicated Driver’s Fourth Offence

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 8

Intoxicated Driver’s Fourth Offence

COUNSEL'S PLEA SUCCEEDS Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Last Night. Donald McLean, farmer, of Amberley, a member of the Kowai County Council, pleaded guilty before Justices of the Peace this morning to being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car at Spring Creek on Saturday afternoon. The police stated that it was his fourth offence, the other three having been in Christchurch, two in 1927 and one in 1931. McLean arrived at Blenheim from Amberley on Saturday at noon with a quantity of liquor in the car. He was already under the influence of liquor. He sought to be supplied at Spring Creek, but the barman refused, as the accused was driving a car. McLean became offensive and aimed a blow at the man, who advised him to leave. In August, 1927, McLean was fined £lO, and four months later he was sentenced to 14 days 7 imprisonment. On a third conviction in 1931 he was fined £lO and his license was cancelled for two years. Counsel for the defendant, in appealing for leniency, said that McLean proposed seeking re-electjon to the County Council and imprisonment would ruin his chances. The Bench, in imposing a fine of £3O and two years 7 disqualification, said that the defendant was apparently a person of some service to the community. A term of imprisonment would cause him to suffer considerably in view of the approaching local body elections. LICENSES LOST IN SOUTH Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Six men were charged to-day with intoxication while in charge of cars. At Christchurch George Manifold Wilton, dental mechanic, aged 37, was lined £3O, his license was cancelled and endorsed, and he was declared unfit to hold another for three years. Thomas •Sydney McGuire, labourer, aged 25, was fined £lO and his license was cancelled for 12 months. William Hayes, farmer, aged 52, was fined £2O and his license was cancelled for 12 months. Philip Bernard Percasky, labourer, aged 22, was fined £LO and his license was cancelled for 12 months. At Lyttelton John Francis Smith and Sydney Herbert Green, labourers, who were jointly charged, were remanded until Wednesday. SEQUEL TO COLLISION Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Last Night. In the Police Court Sydney Tasman Smart admitted being In charge of a car while in a state of intoxication. The police stated that Smart was involved in a collision on the Main South Toad, near Otokia. When a constable arrived on the scene he became pugnacious and used obscene language. . Smart was fined £lO and prohibited from driving for a year, and was also fined £1 feir using abscene language. The Magistrate indicated that he would be permitted to apply for a certificate to drive within a no-license area after a lapse of six months.