INTOXICATION CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22433, 1 June 1936, Page 11

INTOXICATION CHARGE

MOTORIST IN COURT FINED ON THREE COUNTS Charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motoroar, with driving without a licence, and with operating a car with defective brakes, John I?ice Tong, aged 51, rabbiter, appeared before Mr. W.vvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday. Mr. Noble appeared for Tong, who pleaded guilty to the first two charges, but not guilty to the third.

Sub-Inspector Fox said that shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, Constable Carson saw the car driven by accused proceeding down Khvber Pass Road. It was travelling at an exceptionally low speed and was swerving, while the driver was leaning over the side, apparently dosing. The constable followed in another car and stopped the accused,. who was in a pronounced state of intoxication, in fact, lie was drunk. Accused was fighting drunk and he gave the constable some trouble and later, when examined by a doctor, was pronounced as unfit to have charge of a car. The constable found that both brakes were useless. Mr. Noble said accused was well known in To Kuiti and had a respectable grown-up family. On Thursday he had applied at the office of the One Tree Hill Road Board for a licence, but as he did not have his old 0110 with him he was not granted one. Tong was not addicted to drink and on Friday had attended a farewell party, being with some friends who were going away on the Monowai. The accused and his partner required the enr in connection with their rabbiting. "1 think his partner had better do the driving," said the magistrate, in fining Tong £lO on the charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car, £1 for driving without a licence, and 10s on the charge concerning defective brakes.