PROSECUTION FAILS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 5

PROSECUTION FAILS

TAXI PROPRIETOR’S CASE:

OFFENCE HELD NOT

(By Wire,—Special to News). Taumarunui, Last Night.

Gordon Porter, a taxi proprietor, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court this morning with using a public motor-car as a passenger vehicle for the carriage of passengers otherwise than in connection with a passenger service carried on under the authority of a passenger service license, contrary to the Transport Licensing Act, 1931. Mr. E. H. Barrett, Chief transport officer, prosecuted. Edward Wilson, group traffic inspector for the combined districts of Wanganui, Waitotara and Pa tea, said he was a' Taumarunui on August 22 and visited Manunui. He . asked Porter if he could get a ride back to Taumarunui, and he consented. On arrival at Taumarunui he paid Porter one shilling for the fare. Two days later he asked Porter to take l‘-m from Taumarunui to Manunui. Porter did not take him on that occasion and he came to the conclusion that Porter knew he (witness) was trying to catch him charging the ordinary bus fares. Porter said he remembered the evening in question and stated that he gave Inspector Wilson a ride in his car from Manunui to Taumarunui. At Taumarunui the inspector asked how much he was to pay for the trip and witness said, “That is all right.” The inspector handed over a shilling and he accepted the money. The magistrate (Mr. J. H. Luxford) said the inspector and Porter had given their evidence clearly. The prosecution was a criminal one arid he had to be satisfied beyond doubt that an offence had been committed. He was not. satisfied that an offence had been committed and dismissed the information.