TRACTOR DRIVER IN COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 12

TRACTOR DRIVER IN COURT

INTOXICATION CHARGE

“When drivers of motor-vehicles get into a condition of intoxication they risk the lives of other people and they have to pay the penalty.” This statement was made by Mr Andrew Martin, J.P., in the Gore Magistrate’s Court yesterday when Thomas Redmond, single, a farm labourer, of Riversdale, was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a tractor. The defendant, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty. He was convicted and fined £lO disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for six months. Messrs A. Martin and R. Fisher, J.P.s, were on the bench.

Sergeant J. Abel, who prosecuted, said that on Thursday afternoon Constables J. Feeley and J. Potts had visited Riversdale and had seen the defendant drive away from an hotel in an intoxicated condition. The constables arrested the defendant and took him to Gore.

John Cody, a farmer, of Riversdale, said that the defendant had been employed by him for the last seven years and he had not known him to take drink while in charge of a motorvehicle on any previous occasion. The defendant stated that he had not intended to drive the tractor any further than the railway yards. He had been suffering from influenza and he had gone into the hotel for a “spot” to secure some relief. The defendant was allowed a fortnight in which to pay the fine.