REPORTING ACCIDENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 4

REPORTING ACCIDENTS

COLLISION OF MOTORS

POLICE NOT NOTIFIED

MAGISTRATE DISMISSES CASES

A month ago a car driven by a Maori ran head-on into a motor delivery van at the bank corner, says the Whangarei correspondent of the New Zealand Herald. The result was the appearanetbefore Mr R. \V. Tate, S.AL, to-day of Edward Mahungi and \V. Jones, charged jointly with failing to report an accident in which both were involved. Ac. additional charge of chiving to the danger of the public was preferred against Mahunga. Defendant. Mahunga, was on the wrong side of the road, and he had made a statement, to the police that he had been asked hv a man who was very much under the influence of liquor to drive his car to a certain hoarding house in town. Although knowing nothing about a car, defendant complied with the request, the collision being the chic et result.

The ease against Jones was dismissed, the. magistrate remarking that he was more sinned against than sinning. Mahunga was convicted on the first charge of driving to the public clanger; the secct d, that of failing to report, being withdrawn, lie was fined 40s and costs. 19s. A discussion arose as to the interpretation of section 31, sub-sections (1) and (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1924. The magistrate held that the renorting of an accident, although desirable, was not compulsory unless the accident involved injury to a person. The senior sergeant, quoted a precedent. established in Auckland, where a motorist charged with failing to report having run over and killed a pig was convicted and fined.