MAORI ASLEEP IN TRUCK

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1931, Page 9

MAORI ASLEEP IN TRUCK

DENIED HE WAS IN CHAftCE VfeHICLE DRIVEN Bt “OLD MAN.” FINE ON DRUNKfeNNiiSS CIURGE. I “Guilty, but I was not in charge of the car,” said Albert Hau, a young Maori, When it was alleged in the New Plymouth Police Cdiirt yesterday that hl had bben intoxicated while in charge of a motor-truck in King Street bn Tuesday. ■ “He pleads not guilty, then,” said the magistrate. .... Sergeant McGregor aiid Constable Wilsou had found hiffi lying oil tlie stefit of the truck. He had admitted to them he Was drunk arid' that he was the dtiver. Hau proceeded to give “I admit I was drunk, but I was not in charge of tliiit car;” life said. “Then who was?” (iskefl Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. “My old niali.” “And where was he?” ‘Oh, he went away to do some shopping, I suppose.” His father had drivfiii tlifi truck 'ffbiii down the coast on Monday, said Hau, find his father had driven him from Shiart Road that day. They arrived in town about two o’clock and it was three o’clock wlieu the pOliCeriieii came aloiig. “And you spent the time in between gfiting drunk,” said tills niagifitrfitc. “Oh, yes, I had a few,” admitted the native, with a genial smile. “Do you remember how you gbt bilck to the car?” “No. I was too frill. I think I dbii’t remember telling the policfeifaeh anything.” “You have ri farm, haven’t ybU?” asked tlie sfiiiiOr sergeant. “No/’ “Well, What have yoii got?” ‘Some cows.” ,

He admitted he owned the truck and had a license, but still maintained bis “old man” drove it into tUWii. He cdiilll hot account for tlie igiiition key being found iri place by thfi cqnsta.ble. . . Hau Tbrokawa, the father, said he had donfi all the driving. He -went to sfee a' friend; leaving his son in the ear asleep. ‘And liow long did it take Him tb/get drunk?” fiskfed tile iiifig-istrate,- ■ . • - “Oil, I don’t know. ' Some men about three or four glass; soiiife nibte.” “Wlifire did he get thfe riiOney from-?” Oh, the court pay put the other day.” It Whs a serious dfffihce, sliid tlie riffigistrate, fihd beCaiise bf that it had to be wfill prbved. He Wbuld give Hau the benefit of the doubt. ■ U“But lie Wb‘s driihk iri it public place.” sfiid tlie senior sergeant. This charge Was a vfiry iiitieli bigger tiling thari tlifit; said tlie liiagistrate, and cduld not be punished lightly. “Well, 1 shall Idy aridtlier information,” said tlife senior sergbarit. ‘‘Hfi cail’t get away with that. He was arrested and brdiight iiito tlife statibh.”' Hau agreed to the amendment to the charge and was fined 10s; for being fbund drunk in a public place.