MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 20536, 12 July 1928, Page 9

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

LENGTHY OFFENCE LIST. MOTOR PROSECUTIONS PREDOMINATE. A lengthy list of cases was heard’ before Mr. G. Cruickshank, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Thomas Edward Crosland was charged with leaving a motor car stationary on a part of the road other than the near left edge of it. Senior-Sergeant Fox outlined the case and Constable Beadle read a letter from defendant after which the evidence of a taxi-driver who collided with the car was called. Robert John Fraser, proprietor of the Wallacetown bus, gave evidence that at about 6.30, he was driving his bus into town when he saw a tram approaching. He was near Herbert street and passed the bus on its left. Headlights of an approaching car on his own side confused him a little and he was not able to pull up quite in time. Minor damage, to the extent of about £3, was caused to the car. Senior-Sergeant Fox explained that the police had taken action chiefly because the defendant had his car parked on the wrong side. The Magistrate decided to fine defendant 10/-, costs 13/-, witnesses’ expenses 13/-. Martin Robert aged 18, was charged with driving a dray at night without a light attached. Senior-Sergeant Fox said that a butcher’s cart turning around a corner had collided with defendant. Defendant was fined 10/-, witnesses’ expenses 10/-. Michael Francis Flynn was charged with driving a car at night without a light and with refusing information to the police. Defendant’s car. Senior-Sergeant Fox «aid, was seen in Yarrow street without a light and when the constable went to defendant and asked him several questions, he was given only facetious answers. Seeing the car parked without lights he went into the Invercargill Milk Supply to ascertain particulars of the ownership of the car, said 'Constable Brydcne. “I said to him: ’Are you the owner of the car?’ He said: 1 own nothing,’ and when I asked him if he dro\T the car, he said ‘I cannot drive.’ ” Defendant was convicted and fined £1 costs 12/-, on the first charge. The second charge was dismissed. Charles Thomas Roe, charged with failing to deliver on demand the military uniform that had been given to him on entering the cadet forces was ordered to return the articles of clothing or pay £4 11/3, their value, plus costs 10/. Michael Lyons (Mr J. G. Imlay) a traveller for a local firm, was charged with being drunk in charge of a car, and with failing to pull up behind a stationary tram car. He pleaded not guilty. The facts of the case as outlined by Senior-Sergeant Fox, were that defendant was proceeding along Dee street in a southerly direction. A tram car that was travelling in the same direction stopped and so did another car. Defendant, however, drove straight on between the car and the tram and in so doing hit the other car, buckling the fender slightly. The defence was that defendant had looked back to speak to a friend just before the tram stopped. On putting on the brake, he found that the foot board was too high up-and did not allow the full force to be applied. Several witnesses were called to prove that he was not intoxicated and he was convicted and discharged on the first count. On the second, he was convicted and fined £5, costs 16/- and witnesses’ expenses 10/-. Robert McEwan, charged with having in his possession an unlicensed firearm, was convicted and fined 10/-, costs 13/- and the revolver was ordered to be forfeited. Samuel Luke, charged with riding a bicycle without lights, was fined 5/-. Charles Walter Leonard, charged with driving a car on the wrong side of the road, gave as defence that he did not know there was a break in the grass plot in Tay street at Doon street and as he wanted to turn off into Doon street he had turned at Elfes Road. Conviction and a fine of £l, costs 12/was entered against him. John R. Campbell, charged with failing to keep to the left side of a traffic dome, was fined 10/-, costs 12/-. Donald Stewart, jun., charged with driving a car without two headlights and with the rear red light missing, was convicted and discharged. William Walker, charged with failing to keep to the left of *he traffic dome, was convicted and fined 10/-, costs 12/-. James Clark, for riding a bicycle after dark in Herbert street, was fined 5/-, no costs. James Malcolm, charged with driving a motor car at a speed which might be dangerous to the public, was convicted and fined £3, costs 10/-. Charged with disobeying a maintenance order, with arrears amounting to £33 15/4, Timothy Joss was convicted and sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment, warrant not to be issued if he paid £6 16/8 on July 25. James George Wakefield (Mr. T. E. Meredith I sought for variation in a maintenance order made against him in respect of Mary Laurie Wakefield. The order was reduced to 30/- a week from July 1 and former arrears were remitted. SAWMILL WORKERS •HALF YEARLY MEETING. The half yearly meeting of the Sawmill Workers Union was held in the Union office, Esk Street, on June 30, Mr A. Chisholm presiding over a good attendance. A communication was received from Mr W. Hayes, Solicitor, Dunedin, stating that Pullar’s case at Tabakopa, had been settled before the Arbitration Court, for £250, plus Medical and Funeral expenses and legal costs amounting to £lBl 3s Od, which he thought was a good settlement under the circumstances. (Received.) • A Worker wrote from the Queenstown district asking the Union to collect £25 back pay. The secretary stated that the writer was not a memebr of the Union, and had been informed that we did not take up disputes for non-members. Received. The secretary s action was endorsed. A communication was received from the Secretary of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Federation, stating that the Auckland, North Wellington and Canterbury Unions had come to an agreement with their employers on the basis of the old award. He also stated that the Federation had decided to postpone the Annual Conference till 1929. Received. The Waikawa Delegate reported that there was over £47 outstanding in Wages for a considerable time by a firm of sawmillers in the district, and he asked the Union to negotiate on their behalf. Received. And left in the secretary’s hands to take legal action. The Secretary reported having visited mills in the Catlins and Western Districts. Thirteen new members have been enrolled and £B5 received in contributions, bringing the total up to £458, for the half-year, £45 more than the corresponding period of last year. All accounts were passed for payment.