Speed Specialist Loses His Licence

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 7

Speed Specialist Loses His Licence

DANGEROUS DRIVING MAGISTRATE’S CENSURE Having been deprived of his driving licence for five years by Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, on a charge of dangerous driving, Ffarrington E. L. Power suffered a similar punishment at the hands of Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court later in the day. rp\VO charges o£ dangerous driving were preferred against Power by the police, in addition to that already brought by the City Traffic Department in the morning. Defendant was said to have driven in a manner that, having regard to the circumstances, might be dangerous to the public in Shore Road, Remuera, on April 26, and at the intersection of Shore and Bassett Roads on May 1.

Witnesses in the first case estimated Power’s speed at 50 miles an hour. Being neighbours of defendant they had no difficulty in identifying Power’s car as it flashed past them on Shore Road, but they were unable to say definitely who were the occupants. Dissatisfied with the alibi put forward by the defence, Mr. Hunt entered a conviction. Evidence on the second charge showed that Power had crossed an intersection at between 45 and 50 miles an hour, obstructing the vision of other motorists and being the direct cause of a collision between two other cars. The driver of one car said that Power had not stopped to see if anyone was hurt in the collision, although one of the cars was overturned.

Power denied that he was aware of any accident.

The magistrate preferred not to believe Power’s excuse that he could not have been travelling at the speed mentioned because of the condition of his car and the fact that he was short of petrol.

“He uses the road without the slightest consideration for others,’ remarked the magistrate, as he ordered cancellation of Power's licence and imposed a fine of £5. “if he wants to drive he will have to go to some other country.” Mr. Hunt gave it as his considered opinion that Power should be allowed to drive no other wheeled vehicle but a wheelbarrow.