CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 4

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, Januabt 29. (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) INTOXICATED MOTORIST. John Edward Baker, for whom Mr A. O. Hanlon appeared, pleaded guilty to a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car.—Senior Sergeant Quartermain said that at 6 o’clock on the night of January 17 the defendant drove along the Caversbam road from the direction of Green Island. He pulled up outside a house and was seen to be obviously under the influence of liquor. He went into the house, but the people did not recognise him and sent for the police. He was a married man with one child, and was a driver for a carrying firm. If his license were cancelled he would lose his employment.—Mr Hanlon said that he appeared in the case to ask his Worship to find means of dealing with the defendant without cancelling his license. It could not be suggested that the defendant drank during the day. The firm for • which he was working would not tolerate it. He owned an old car, and on this occasion he had more than was good for him. He recognised that the public must be protected, but this could be done without taking the defendant’s license away. He would dispose of his car, the firm would see that he did not drink during the day, and if the court thought it wise he would take out a prohibition order.—The magistrate: The public would only be protected if he obeyed the order.—Mr Hanlon replied that that applied to any order that the court might make. If the defendant’s license were cancelled it would inflict a grave handicap on his wife and child. Counsel asked his Worship to adopt the more charitable way of dealing with the case.—ln reply to a question from the Bench the senior sergeant said that Baker had been once convicted of drunkenness. His employers spoke highly of him, and he was not a drunkard. —The magistrate said that people who earned their living by driving motor cars should be particularly careful about taking liquor. If they did indulge they must be a danger to the public. The defendant had previously been convicted for drunkenness, and it would be improper not to deal with the license in some manner. The defendant would be fined £5 and his license 1 would be cancelled for three months. DRUNKENNESS. On a charge of drunkenness John M‘Dowall was fined 40s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. A first offender, similarly charged, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. John Oliver Campbell was charged with drunkenness and with a breach of a prohibition order. Senior Sergeant Quarterman said that this was the third breach of the order, but the defendant was making an effort to comply with it.—On the charge of drunkenness the defendant was fined 40s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. On the second charge he was convicted and discharged. SEAMAN CHARGED. Paul Sand was charged with being an idle and disorderly person in that he had insufficient visible means of support.— Senior Sergeant Quartermain said that the defendant was a Norwegian and a-pro-hibited immigrant. He had deserted from a Norwegian ship at Port Chalmers, and further proceedings were likely.—A remand until to-morrow was granted. MAINTENANCE, Jack Munden Muir was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order. — He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as he paid the current order of £2 5s a week and 5s a week off the arrears. The hearing of evidence was concluded ip the case in which a complaint was made against Ennis Milne for affiliation and maintenance orders.—His Worship reserved his decision.