LICENCE CANCELLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 16

LICENCE CANCELLED

INTOXICATED MOTORIST SHARP COMMENT BY BENCH [by telegraph—own correspondent] TE AWAMUTTJ, 'Wednesday Strong comment on the increase in the number of cases of intoxication while in charge of motor vehicles was made in the Te Awamutu Court to-day by Mr. G. A. Empson, J.P., when Frank Hastie, aged 40, a farmer, of Puahue, was charged with being intoxicated while in charge of a motorcar in Arawata Street last evening. Associated with Mr. Empson on the Bench was Mr. J. Anderson, J.P. Constable H. J. Carseldine said that Hastie was arrested as he was getting into his car. Ho was staggering, and had two bottles of beer in his possession. He admitted having had 12 drinks during the afternoon. Constable J. Forsyth said that a medical examination made a few minutes after tho arrest had proved accused to be intoxicated. He was a reputable farmer, well known in tho district and highly respected. He had an excellent war record, and injuries received while on active service probably affected him at times. "You must have known that you were risking an accident," said Mr. Empson to the accused. "Although you are an ex-serviceman and the police have spoken favourably of you, it does not alter the position. We are all for tho returned soldiers, but we cannot have the public endangered in this way. We will definitely not allow drunken motorists. There has been an epidemic of this sort of thing lately, and we intend to put a stop to it."

Accused was convicted and fined £ls. His driving licence was cancelled and he was prohibited from obtaining another for 12 months.