POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 22473, 8 November 1934, Page 9

POLICE COURT

YESTERDAY’S ( BUSINESS.

Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Police Court yesterday morning. Robert Caldwell Blue pleaded guilty to riding a cycle at night without a light and was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/-. William George Hewitt pleaded guilty to failing to keep a vigilant look-out while approaching a railway crossing in a car. He was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/-. Frederick Garnet Thompson, Otatara, pleaded guilty to permitting his motor driver’s license to be used by another person. He was ordered to pay Court costs 13/-. Information Dismissed.

A plea of not guilty was entered by Messrs Watts and Grieve, motor dealers, on a charge of permitting a motor vehicle to be used without being registered. Mr F. G. Hall-Jones represented the company. A charge against Leonard Lauriston Thompson for using the motor vehicle without having an assigned number and distinguishing marks affixed was heard at the same time. Senior-Sergeant Packer said that Thompson had been seen driving a delivery van round town with a dealers number plate on it. He was warned that he would require to register it, but replied that the traffic inspector had said it was all right.. The truck belonged by Watts and Grieve and had been used by Thompson in the course of his calling for several weeks. The regulations required that the vehicle be registered. Mr Hall-Jones explained to the Court that the truck was the property of Watts and Grieve. It had been traded in in the ordinary course of business and whenever it was used for demonstration purposes with a view to a sale, the usual dealers’ plates were affixed. There was no loss of revenue to the defendant by the plate having been left on the vehicle. Thompson took the truck out on trial with a view to purchasing a new truck of the same model if suitable. He had used it for about a month as the new truck was delayed in its arrival. He paid no hire and used it on condition that if the firm required it he would hand it in. It was very important that motor firms be allowed to do this sort of thing and counsel was satisfied that the regulations provided for it. As long as the demonstration plates were affixed it was in order. The matter was of great importance to the motor dealers. William Grieve, of the firm of Watts and Grieve, motor dealers, gave evidence of the trade-in of the truck and said that the usual demonstration plates were affixed whenever it was used. The truck was taken out on trial by Thompson. No hire was charged. Thompson was given the vehicle for use pending the arrival of a new and similar vehicle. This vehicle was a week or two . longer. arriving than anticipated. The demonstration plates were not removed from the vehicle. Witness said that it would be a serious matter if restrictions were placed on the use of dealers’ or demonstration plates. To Senior-Sergeant Packer witness said that the vehicle, although under the control of the firm, was not housed in the company’s garage. The user of the vehicle was covered by insurance, third party risk, through the dealer. The use of the dealers’ plates afforded this protection. The Magistrate, in dismissing the information, said that as long as the dealer was trying to sell a vehicle he could use demonstration plates for practically any purpose whatever and at any time. The section of the Act dealing with the matter had opened the door very wide. He could find no breach in these cases. Committed for Sentence.

Allan Webb, aged 25, pleaded guilty to assaulting his mother, Mary Emily Webb, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Mary Emily Webb, the complainant, said she was living with her son, the accused. He got into a temper and struck her three times on the face, then threw her to the ground and hit her on the head with a bottle. He also hit her on the cheek and forehead. Constable Kennedy said he interviewed accused who admitted striking his mother owing to her inability and unwillingness to help him to repair a motor car. Witness then interviewed Mrs Webb and saw that she had been struck about the head. She told witness that her son had knocked her down and kicked her.

Dr William J. Barclay attested to having examined complainant and found bruises and abrasions of the skin on the left cheek and left forehead. The upper lip was cut and swollen. He had been informed that the lip had been treated and stitched. Witness detailed other bruises discovered on complainant’s body.