FINE OF £20 FOR FARMHAND

Southland Times, Issue 24057, 22 February 1940, Page 12

FINE OF £20 FOR FARMHAND

CHARGE OF HAVING NO DRIVER’S LICENCE (United Press Association) » HAMILTON, February 21. A fine of £2O was imposed on Albert George Harrison, a farmhand, who was charged before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton today with failing to have a driver’s licence. The case arose out of an incident in which Harrison was stopped by the traffic inspector, Mr A. E. Hodgson, on the main road near Ngaruawahia. It was staled by the inspector that the defendant had had his licence cancelled in New Plymouth, but since then had twice been convicted for driving a car without one. Harrison, who did not appear, faced charges of driving without care, failing to possess a licence and having no warrant of fitness for the car. On the latter two charges he was fined £1 and £2 respectively, and he was also prevented from obtaining a driving licence before 1942.

In evidence, Inspector Hodgson said Harrison passed through Ngaruawahia singing and waving his arms about to attract attention. The course of the car was erratic and when the witness came up to Harrison he found the defendant driving the car with one hand and with the other round a woman companion. Referring to Harrison’s previous convictions, the inspector said his licence had been cancelled for six Months for reckless driving in New Plymouth. He was also convicted at that time for failing to possess a warrant of fitness. The case in New Plymouth, said the inspector, resulted from the defendant’s having driven down the main street sitting on the back of the seat and steering with his feet. When his driving licence was cancelled the defendant frankly stated that he would drive without it.