THE DRUNKEN MOTORIST

Southland Times, Issue 23838, 8 June 1939, Page 7

THE DRUNKEN MOTORIST

To The Editor Sir,— Scarcely a day passes without arrests and convictions of motorists for intoxication in charge of cars. These persons, as is well known, are fined or imprisoned, yet the hotel keepers who supplied the drink stand secure behind their bars and the law and continue to rake in the cash and turn out the “finished article,” the incapable motorist. According to a report in yesterday’s paper a man was arrested in Christchurch and was convicted and fined £2O. He stated that he called to see an hotel keeper who “gave” him whisky. The man stated that he drank beer. His wife and family were evidently waiting outside for him. According to the police, when they saw his intoxicated state they walked away. "When he tried to start his car he could not stand. He was arrested, while his hotel keeper no doubt looked out and viewed the scene. Now, sir, there is a remedy for the drunken motorist trouble, and that is that the arrested person should give the name of the hotel that turned him out in that state and the hotel keeper should be compelled to pay an equal fine or have an equal term of - imprisonment. It is the hotel keepers who are getting the increased wages, not the wives and families.—Yours, etc., ANTI-INTOXICATION. June 7, 1939.