DRUNKEN DRIVERS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13313, 21 July 1936, Page 5

DRUNKEN DRIVERS.

OFFENCES SHOW INCREASE. MAGISTRATE ISSUES WARNING. Electric Telegraph—Pre ss Association AUCKLAND, £nst X'ght. When three motorists were charged in the Police Court with being in charge of cars when in a state oi intoxication, the Magistrate, Mr W. R. McKean, commented on the great increases in this class of offence and suggested a special division of prison A strange coincidence was that two men hit the same end of the same safety zone and both injured their noses. “Penalties imposed during the past few weeks apparently have not acted as a deterrent,” said Mr McKean, in dealing with one accused. “I have said X would increase them. There have been 15 convictions since June 1 tor this offence and I have to consider imprisonment, but on account of his health 1 do not want to send him to prison. If there was a separate division in prison I would have no hesitation in do-ing so, but separate division or no separate division, I will have to do it sooner or later for this sort of offence as fines do not seem to have any effect. The only other thing to do is to increase the period of suspension of licenses.” OFFENDER. DEALT WITH. CHRISTCHURCH, July 20. After knocking down a cyclist and injuring a girl while passing a stationary tram, Stanley Steen Middleton, the driver of a milk van, was detained by the motorman and conductor of the tram until he was arrested. He appeared on remand in the Magistrate’s Court this morning on a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor van. He pleaded guilty and was fined £75 and ordered to pay costs. His license was cancelled and endorsed, and he was prohibited from obtaining one for two years. In outlining the circumstances, Sub-Inspector Maclean said accused had taken a great deal of liquor and was in an advanced state of drunkenness. He was driving the milk motor van down Ferry road on the evening of July 10 and had knocked over a cyclist, almost cutting the cycle in two. If accused had entered another plea he would have called evidence to show that he was travelling at 50 miles an hour. Accused then swerved past a stationary tram, the Sub-Inspector continued. In doing so he struck a girl who was just dismounting. The conductor saw a car approaching and shouted; “Look out!” The girl pressed against the tram, but the tail of the van struck her hips, injuring them. No bones were broken. Middleton was most violent when placed in the cell. Accused had never been before the Court before, but the Sub-In-spector understood that he was addicted to liquor. Counsel said accused was a married man, aged 35, with three children. He had been the manager of a dairy farm at. Sumner for the* past nine years. He drove the truck, whic h was necessary for his business, but he had never had an accident- On the day in question Middleton commenced work at 4 a.m. and did a full day’s work, and had no tea. Just before going to town he had one glass of whisky and two glasses of beer. He was in a poor state of health, and it seemed that he was in a state of health in which drink had a. serious effect. Middleton had endeavoured to pass tile tram before it stopped, and it seemed that he had committed a very grave error of judgment. “It seems to the' Court that these eases are steadily forcing the position in which legislation will have to be passed removing any chance of fines in these matters,” said the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey), in imposing a fine. “If a man takes liquor and commits an aggravated assault for some reason or other there is no option, but there cases seem to be in a category by themselves. Why, I do not know. Very shortly the Court will have to treat these matters with no option, but 1 do not wish to have to take this stand yet. This is really a bad case, and one' finds difficulty in adjusting the penalty to the gravity of the offence,” said tho Magistrate, in imposing a fine of £75.