The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1936. SHARPER PUNISHMENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13176, 7 February 1936, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1936. SHARPER PUNISHMENT.

Xu the Wellington Supreme Court oil Wednesday Mr Justice Smith, showed in no uncertain manner that he is determined to do all in his power to check negligent driving among motorists, and in sentencing an offender who had been the cause of an accident on the Hutt Road when coming home from the Trentham races, lie balanced all the latter’s individual circumstances against the requirements of public safety. The man in question, a well-known professional figure, had borne an excellent reputation, and had done everything to assist the victims of his negligence, but the learned judge rightly reasoned that this in no wise lessened his need for observing the requirements of road safety and, having heard in evidence that the former had partaken of several drinks during the day, said he lyas driving partly under the influence of liquor. The judge pointed out- that it was very distressing to have to deal with a case of this kind where a man’s character had been a good one, but he could not escape the conclusion that the punishment should be a deterrent. Magistrates and Supreme Court Judges have long been giving warnings that they intended sending motorists to gaol in cases of this kind, and it seemed now' that a lead has been given which will not be regarded lightly, and will, we hope, prove a sufficient deterrent to others for it was held by the judge that although there was some rain at the time of the mishap there was nothing to show that the driver had any real difficulty in managing his car.