NEGLIGENT DRIVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 7

NEGLIGENT DRIVER

MOTOR CYCLIST INJURED. CLERGYMAN FINED £25. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, June 26. As a result of an accident on the Hutt Road near Kaiwarra on Easter Monday afternoon last, Canon Percival Ernest James was prosecuted in the Police Court to-day for negligent driving and was fined £25. James, who had his wife and another relation in the car, had at first swung out of the line of traffic and passed another car when a collision occurred between hjs ear and a motor-cycle carrying two people, who were severely injured. James himself was injured and was absent from duties for five weeks. The Magistrate, reviewing the case, said he thought that the real effective cause of the accident was James’ negligence in driving as he had on the wrong side of the road when conditions wore not safe to do so. Mr Treadwell submitted that jn the present case the mere fact that a conviction had been entered would be sufficient penalty. The magistrate, however, said that two people had been injured and might have been killed. Defendant’s act had clearly been negligent and dangerous and hp would have to be fined a substantial amount.