SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 8

SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY

INTOXICATED MOTORIST. FINE AND LOSS OF LICENSE. A fine of £2O and the cancellation of his license for 12 months was imposed upon Mitikia Kahimir, a Maori charged with being intoxicated in charge of a car, by Mr. J. H. Salmon,sS.M:, in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Kairimu was also charged with driving in a negligent manner and with having no driver’s license. Defendant pleaded guilty to not having a driver’s license, but not guilty to the other charges. He was represented by Mr. Malone and Sergeant Henry conducted the case for the police. Sergeant Henry stated that defendant was driving a car along the South Road towards Hawera on June 3 when a collision occurred on a bend just north of Manutahi with another car proceeding iin the opposite direction. After the accident both defendant and a companion ! showed signs of intoxication. ' , i George John Burnand said he was in ithc car his son was driving when the I accident occurred. The left hand wheel lof their car was on the clay. Defendant’s car was zig-zagging about the road and struck their ear about the rear mudguard. Two Maoris got out of- the cay, one drunk and the other half-drunk. His son had left the Maoris about five paces of the road. Some damage was done to the car and the larger of the two Maoris gave him £l. In reply to* Mr. Malone witness said the corner where the accident occurred was quite a safe one. He thought there was not very much camber. After the accident the Maoris got into their car to drive home. Mr. Malone: You did not think it was wrong for two drunken Maoris to ‘be allowed to drive over the Manawapou and Tongahoe hills? —It was not my place to warn them. Edwin William Burnand said that one of the Maoris was drunk and the other smelt strongly of drink. Neither was in a fit state to drive the car. Arthur John Armstrong said that the Maoris were on the wrong side of the road. Neither was in a fit condition to drive the car. There was not a great deal of camber on the bend where the accident occurred. Constable Lemin read a statement obtained from defendant stating that he had had two shandies at Patea. Witness had always looked upon defendant as a decent sort of native. Defendant, through Mr. M. R. Jones, interpreter, stated that he had no liquor on the morning of June 3. In the afternoon he had two long shandies. He kept to his right side of the road while coming round the bend, but the other ear at first seemed to be bearing to the centre of the road, later swinging back to its correct side. After the impact witness could not control his car, which went over to the right-hand side of the read. The owner of the other car told witness that the damage to the former s car was worth £lO, but said he won Id accept £l. Witness was told that that would be the end of the matter. 'UJ. ness said he was a temperate man. His companion was drunk. His Worship stated that in cases concerning sobriety the evidence, of police or a doctor was usually available, but in this case they had three respectable farmers, who thought that the driver was not in a fit state to drive a ear. He thought the Court should act upon the weight of evidence and on the major charge he would fine defendant £2O and order the cancellation of his drivers license for 12 months. On the other charges he would convict and discharge defendant. Defendant was given three weeks in which to pay. The witnesses did not claim their expenses and the Court costs were 16s,