A DRUNKEN INDIAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 76

A DRUNKEN INDIAN.

DRIVER’S LICENSE CANCELLED. AUCKLAND. January 26. Remarking that he had dealt with worse cases, Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., imposed a fine of £l5 on Lala Parchotam, aged 26, an Indian fruiterer, in the Police Court to-day, and directed .the cancellation of his motor license till the end of March. Parchotam was found drunk in a motor truck in Queen street on the evening of January 18. Sergeant Flanagan, of the waterfront police, was riding on a tramcar when he saw the Indian at the wheel of a light motor track which was zig-zagging down Queen street towards the Phoenix Chambers, where the City Fire Brigade was extinguishing an outbreak. There was a crowd of onlookers gathered in the street, and, realising that the Indian was driving in a dangerous manner, the sergeant jumped from the tram and arrested him as the motor truck slowed down. “I am satisfied the man was drunk,” said Mr Hunt, “he may not have had quite enough. At any rate the Legislature regards this offence very seriously. A fine of £lOO and three months’ imprisonment is provided for. he are trying to put down this class of offence. However, I have dealt with worse cases than this, and I think that in the. circumstances the ends of justice will be met if I fine him £l5 and cancel his license till the end of the quarter.” When it was pointed out that the Indian earned his living by using the motor truck, and that'deprivation of the right to drive would handicap him severely. Mr Hunt said something drastic had to be done to put down drunkenness among motorists. If a man touched liquor he should keep ou4 ef has car and go home. Drunken motorists could not be tolerated on the streets-. Uusually he fined offenders £25, but in view of the circumstances he had decided to cut it down by £lO.