MOTOR MANSLAUGHTER

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 8

MOTOR MANSLAUGHTER

TREATMENT OF DRIVERS METHOD OF IMPRISONMENT. . CASES FOR CLASSIFICATION. By Telcffrapb—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night Whether motorists convicted, of manslaughter should bo imprisoned with ordinary criminals was discussed at th© Howard Penal Reform League’s meeting to-day. A remit was submitted declaring that the whole question of punishment of motorists found gudty of offences under the Motor Vehicles Act, and in particular of manslaughter, should be reviewed. Mr. F. A. De la Mar© contended that a man imprisoned for manslaughter aa the result of a motor accident was not a criminal in the ordinary sense of the term at all, and that to put such a man among tho prison population entirely wrong. Dr. Staley referred to a case in which a motorist was drunk and killed an old woman and was fined £lOO. Ho was a jockey, and the fine was paid by a racing club. Shortly afterwards a young man of good family was sent to prison for a year for killing a little girl While driving at. more than 25 miles an hour down a road.

Mr. Do la Mare contended that these were cases for classification.

Miss B. E. Bangham: In many eases tho cause is, drunkenness. It was decided to refer the remit back to the proposers for a definite case to be stated for discussion.