DRIVERS IN COURT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 12

DRIVERS IN COURT

INTOXICATION CASES ERRATIC COURSE OF CAR MAORI'S IGNORANCE OF LAW [BV TEIEGBAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ROTORUA, Saturday "This is probably the worst case of drunken driving in my experience, stated Sir. T. A. Alcock, district main highways inspector, in the Rotorua Court this morning, when a native, Ttiwhakamana Rua, aged 26, married, of Tikitere, was cliarge.d with being intoxicated while in charge of a car. The inspector stated that when lie was proceeding along the RotoruaWliakatane highway, about six miles from Rotorua, shortly after 6-30 o'clock on Friday evening, his attention was drawn to the erratic course being pursued by a car ahead of him. The car was swerving all over the road and practically touching the banks on each side of the bitumen. Realising that if he sounded his siren the driver might become aware that an inspector was following and increase his speed, with the chances of an accident, the inspector said he was forced to follow the car for about a mile before he got an opportunity to get ahead when the car pulled in toward a side road. When witness stopped the car lie found that the driver was unfit to be in charge, while a passenger was properly frightened and thankful that the inspector had arrived. The Maori was brought in to the Rotorua police station and examined by a doctor, who certified that he was unfit to be in charge of the car. Questioned by Senior-Sergeant E. J. Carroll, Rua stated that he never read newspapers and did not know that it was an offence to drive a car while drunk. The Bench, Messrs. R. B. Ncsbitt and A. W. Downer, J.P.'s, cancelled the defendant's driving licence for two years and convicted and fined him £lO, in default one month's imprisonment. ANOTHER MAORI CHARGED COMMENT ON CAR'S CONDITION [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI, Saturday A charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a car in Church Street earlv last evening was made against Poata Hape at the Opotiki Police Court to-day before justices of the peace. Sergeant 11. Millar stated that in company with Constable Julian ho noticed three Maoris endeavouring to start a car. Two were pushing it along the street and the third was manipulating the controls. He could see all three were more or less under the influence of liquor. The accused said he was driving the cur. He was noticeably intoxicated, and was taken to the police station, where a doctor examined him and certified that he was not m a fit state to be in charge of a car. The Court commented on the fact that, although a warrant of fitness had been issued by a garage, the car was not in a fit condition to drive. The accused was convicted and fined £2 and costs, and prohibited from driving for 12 months.