YOUTH'S OFFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23019, 22 April 1938, Page 13

YOUTH'S OFFENCE

INTOXICATED DRIVER TERM OF PROBATIONCONSIDERATION FOR AGE "I know what I would do if he was a few years older," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when an 18-year-old car [ salesman, Eric Douglas Mathieson. charged with being intoxicated in charge of a motor-car in Ponsonby Road, pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday. Sub-Inspector Fox said that just before 11 o'clock on Wednesday night the conductor of a tram-car running near Three Lamps noticed a motor-car travelling behind .without lights. This car collided with another parked on the side of the road, but it was only a glancing blow, and it continued on its way.

Sergeant Bisset was in the tram, and when the conductor told him what had happened he got off and stopped the motorist. Accused denied that he had hit another car, but the sergeant pointed out that the left front mudguard of his car was crumpled. The parked car had been pushed along for 22ft., and was considerably damaged. Accused had been driving one of his firm's cars, and said he had drunk only two glasses of wine at Henderson. "His father says he has never known the boy to do anything stupid before," said Mr. Moody, who appeared for accused. He said accused had been earning £2 10s a week, but would now lose his position. "It is only your youth which stops me from dealing very severely with you," said the magistrate. "You had no right to have liquor. See what happened at Hamilton yesterday—men were sent to gaol for offences like this." Accused was convicted and placed on probation for two years, his licence was cancelled, no other is to be issued for 12 months, and he was ordered to pay for the damage to the parked car. "That case would have had a £IOO fine if he had been an adult," concluded the magistrate.