MAGISTRATE'S DOUBTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 13

MAGISTRATE'S DOUBTS

LOCAL BODY CERTIFICATES ISSUE OF DRIVING LICENCES [BY TKLECHAI'H —OWN" COItItESrOXI) KNT] WAIHI, Wednesday Comment on the issuing of certificates by local authorities in regard to the time when drivers' licences were taken out was made by 31 r. i\ H. Levien, S.M., in the Magistrates Court to-day, when a young man, William Johnston, of Paeroa, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having driven a motor-car without a licence. Defendant stated that he had got his licence at Paeroa only 011 the morning of the day he had been approached by the borough inspector, Mr. J. Spence, but said he had left it in his overcoat when he set out for Wailn. He produced a certificate issued at the office of the Ohinemuri County Council stating that a licence had been issued 011 that particular day. "I am not very impressed by certificates given by local authorities," said the magistrate. "Sometimes they are not bone fide and I am a bit diffident about accepting them, as I have had some experience." The certificate in question contained two vital mistakes or alterations and the magistrate had not the remotest chance, he said, of assessing its value as evidence unless the man who made it out was present for cross-examina-tion. The defendant repeated his story 011 oath, the magistrate first asking if he was fully aware of the nature of the oath. "I think I will give the defendant the benefit of the doubt." said the magistrate. "I do not think this young man would risk prosecution for perjury." The information was withdrawn.