S.M. THREATENS IMPRISONMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 10

S.M. THREATENS IMPRISONMENT.

AUCKLAND MAN FINED £75,

(Per Prcs3 Association.) AUCKLAND, lust nigld

"The time is rapidly approaching when these men who drive muter ears while intoxicated* will have to be sent to prisuu instead of being lined," said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court, A hen Ernest Maud, 37, came before iiiiu uiiargeil with being intoxicated while in charge of a motor car in Carlton Core road, this morning (as In icily recorded in our second edition yesterday). Mi Moody appeared fur Maud, who cnteied a plea of guilty. The facts of the ease were placed befoie the Court hv Sub-Inspector Lew in, who stated that at 1.30 o’clock this lUCrniug accused was driving his car ,'dong Carlton Cl ore road in'the direction ol Newmarket, when he collided with a stationary motor car. The stationary car was properly lighted. Maud, he said, must have been travelling at a fail speed, as In's ear was thrown right across the road. Another ear. which was approaching at the same time, struck Maud’s ear. Maud was drunk. lie had been, before the Court only on one occasion, about two years ago, on a charge of drunkenness. “BAD LIGHTING IN STREET.". Mr Moody stated that Maud was coming down hill. There was no doubt the- stationary ear's rear light w;a,s burning. The had lighting ill this street, said counsel, evidently had something to do with the collision with llii' stationary ear. After Maud’s ear iind collided his lights went out and, obsriving' the other ear approaching, ho and another man who was in the ear with him, hurriedly jumped out in an nltempt In slop the oncoming ear. However, lie was unable to Rojliis. and was knocked down lie (lie ear. which afterwards collided with his own ear. Mr Moody said he hacl perused the statement made by accused 1 to a. constable shortly after the accident, and could only say that Maud could 1 nol have been very bad to have made such a dear statement, which he also signed. Tlie case was not a had one. thought Mr Moody, who added that Maud had been locked up all night. While fully appreciating that every case shotrld be judged! on its merits. Air Slowly said it was possible for even a sober man to collide with another car in Carlton Gore road, owing to the- had lighting. Aland’ was a married man with three children. His own car had been badly damaged, and ho would be put to considerable expense over the accident. Air Moody respectfully suggested that in this case • the Magistrate should impose a line instead of sending Maud to gaol.

Air Hunt: The- Court does not want to send a respectable man to gaol, but it will soon have to do it.

Mr Moody: t would again draw your Worship’s attention to the bad lighting in this street. AH 1 funl ; That makes- no difference. Last week we had three drunken motor drivers in Court, anri two or three (his week already. Maud will he fined £75. We will sec if this will stop them coining along. His license also will ho cancelled. Has Aland got his license? AH' Moody: Yes, it is.here, and it is a nice, new one, (00. Afr, Hunt: AVell. it is cancelled, and 1 order that no license shall be again issued to him for another twelve months by any local authority.

Accused was granted one week m which to pay the fine.