Lopsided Justice or Lopsided Law ?

NZ Truth, Issue 1035, 26 September 1925, Page 1

Lopsided Justice or Lopsided Law ?

Curious anomalies m law and contradictory edicts pronounced by bewigged Judges and sombre Magistrates have more than once made the man m the street take notice, and his verdict has invariably been "The Law's an Ass." It still enjoys that doubtful distinction. Two examples: —

A, prominent business man returning home m his car crashed into the stone pillar of a* safety zone. He was arrested, charged with being drunk when m charge of a motor-car, and through his solicitor admitted having been drunk. The lawyer stated that he did not think that it was a very bad case. The S.M. inflicted a fine of £10.

A doctor, living near Auckland also administered a severe jolt to the stone pillar of a safety zone when returning home from a dance. Arrested and charged with being drunk when m charge of a motor, he too, sent his solicitor to answer the charge. Counsel advanced the opinion that the offence was not a serious one and the doctor had hot been drunk enough to lock up according to the testimony of a brother medico. A fine of £25 was imposed.

The proprietor of a passenger 'bus, who was arrested and charged with being drunk when m charge of a motor vehicle, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, without the option of a fine. He appeared to answer the charge.

The driver of a motor lorry, who, like the doctor and the business man, displayed a weakness for the stone pillar of a safety zone, was arrested, charged with being drunk when m charge of a motor vehicle, and sentenced to three days' imprisonment, without the option. He, too, attended the court.