S.M. REBUKES TAXI-DRIVER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18187, 21 June 1927, Page 5

S.M. REBUKES TAXI-DRIVER.

“ YOU ACTED IN A STUPID, INSANE MANNER,” SAYS MAGISTRATE. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 21. " I have a good mind to endorse your license since you have acted in a stupid, insane manner,” said Mr Salmon. S.M., to-day, to George Alexander Waddell, a taxi-driver charged with having driven in a dangerous But for the fact that you are an old driver with seventeen years' experience and have no previous convictions I would certainly have endorsed your license. It is time taxi drivers learned that no particular cars have a right to the road and that if one car is in front of another it should be allowed to remain there. I want it to be known that any drivers who adopt this sort of senseless conduct will have their licenses endorsed.’* The prosecution alleged that just after midnight on May 27. defendant turned his car round in front of a car run by an opposition company at the Grand Hotel and that at the intersection of Willis and Manners Streets he stopped in the middle of the road blocking the other car. Later on he several times shot across in front of the other car, nearly causing a collision, but on the last occasion re was intercepted by a sergeant and constable. For defendant, Mr Leicester said he had undoubtedly acted in an unwise manner, but he had been provoked by the driver of the other car, who had forced him to slow down and change his gears several times. Mr Salmon imposed a fine of £5.