DRUNKEN DRIVER FINED £l0 BY S.M.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19247, 8 December 1930, Page 6

DRUNKEN DRIVER FINED £lo BY S.M.

IS PROHIBITED FROM PROCURING A LICENSE. James Smith, a butchers assistant, aged thirty-nine years, was so drunk on Saturday afternoon that when he dropped his matches and stooped down to pick them up he fell over on the road, according to a statement made by Senior-Sergeant J. J. O’Grady this morning. Smith was in charge of a motor-car at the time, and when Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., heard the facts in the Magistrate’s Court he convicted Smith for being drunk in charge, fined him £lO and costs and prohibited him from procuring a license until June 1 1931. Smith, who was represented by Mr Tracy, pleaded guilty. The Senior-Sergeant said that be. tween 5.30 and 6 p.m. on Saturday Smith drove his car down Colombo Street, turned into St Asaph Street and pulled up outside an hotel. When he came out of the hotel he made for his car, but a constable stopped him. Accused was very drunk and dropped his matches. When he went to pick them up he fell over on the road. He was very drunk. Mr Tracy said that Smith worked in a butcher’s shop at Kaiapoi. He had had nothing to eat on Saturday since breakfast time. He had driven in from Kaiapoi and had experienced engine trouble. He had had a few drinks before he left. The chief trouble was that Smith had been out of work for eighteen months until five weeks ago, when he secured a position at Kaiapoi. His wife and two children lived in Christchurch. One of the children was asthmatical and the parents had to be up a greater part of the night to attend to him. Smith had at first stayed at Kaiapoi, but latterly had to come back to Christchurch every night to help his wife in looking after their child. He had to have a conveyance. lie was not a drinker by any means and went for weeks without even having a drink. On this occasion he had had too much. He had very little means. “He knew 7 the risk he w r as running,” said the Magistrate. “If these men like to be foolish it is their look out. He will be fined £lO and costs and his license cancelled, in default one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. Have you your license with you?”, ‘We asked him to produce it,” said the Senior-Sergeant, “but he did not have it with him.” “In that case,” said the Magistrate, “he will be prohibited from procuring a license until June 1, 1931. He probably has not got one.” Smith was allowed forty-eight hours in which to pay the fine.”