TERM IN PRISON

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1938, Page 7

TERM IN PRISON

INTOXICATED MOTORIST INCIDENTS AT MANAIA Fourteen day s' imprisonment was imposed on Hangi Taha in the Hawera court yesterday by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., on a charge of being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car at Manaia. His license was cantelled for two years. Though it was a first offence it was a serious one, said Mr. Salmon, who added that he thought it was useless flning natives, or, for that matter, a large section of the European population. Taha had 10 shandies, said SeniorSergeant I. H. Matheson. He drove through Manaia at a speed from 35. to 40 miles an hour, missed colliding with one car, crashed into the side of a parked truck, missed a pedestrian who had to jtimp on to the footpath to save himself and, still proceeding on his incorrect side of the road, narrowly missed another car before getting away. Complaints were made to Constable Warren, who found Taha asleep at a table with his head on his arms. According to C.onstable Warren, the senior-sergeant continued, Taha speht his money in "old cars, old junk and drink" and was a menace to people on the road. It was while negotiating the band rotunda in the centre of the town that the steering gear of the old car gave way, said Mr. R. J. O'Dea in explanation of Taha's crash into the side of the parked truck. Taha had some difflculty in getting the vehicle back on its correct side of the road and, thinking that he had caused only slight damage, proceeded on his way. Taha admitted having consumed some liquor, but the reason for being found asleep in the house of another native was that he had been up until four o'clock in the moming at a tribal meeting to dlscuss native housing. Counsel pointed out that as this was Taha's first offence he would ask the court to extend whatever leniency it thought possible to meet the case. A charge of dangerous driving against Taha was withdrawn.