TRUCK CONVERTER SAYS HE WAS PESTERED BY MATES

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1950, Page 2

TRUCK CONVERTER SAYS HE WAS PESTERED BY MATES

"There are over 200 men in the construction camp at Waiouru and the drivers are pestered by chaps to take them to the nearest town,’’ declared Albert Anthony Zainey, truck driver, employed by the Residential Construction Co., at Waiouru, when he appeared before Messrs E. Loader and W. Annear, J.P.’s at the Taihape Magistrate's Court on Monday on a charge of converting to his own use a truck valued at £7OO, the property of the Fletcher Construction Coy. The offence was committed on Sunday, November 5, and defendant pleaded gvittv to the chor~e.

Sergeant L. Nicol, who conducted the prosecution on behalf of the police, told the Court that Zainey was an employe? of the Residential Construction Co. (a subsidiary of the Fletcher Construction Co.) at Waiouru. He was engaged as a truck driver and kept the keys of the lorry. About 5.45 p.m. Mr H. L. Parker, building supervisor for the company, saw one of the company's trucks parked at the Fire Station at Taihape. The driver could not be located, and Mr Parker returned later to make further enquiries, only to find that the truck had disappeared and was subsequently found at Waiouru. Defendant had admitted taking the truck to bring his mates to Taihape, said the sergeant, who added that at the Labour week-end defendant had used a truck in his care and the vehicle had been damaged to the extent of £7O. He had been severely warned that he must not take the company's trucks, but, in spite of the warning, he had offended again and had now lost his job. The Bench (to defendant): Fletchers treated you well when you took a truck during the Labour week-end, and yet you have done the same thing again, and have ignored the warning you were given on that occasion. You damaged the truck when you took it first. Defendant: I was not responsible for the damage. There are over 200 men at tht construction camp at Waiouru and they pester the lorry drivers to take them to town. These chaps pestered me and I brought them to Taihape on Sunday. I gained nothing by obliging them. All they did was to put four gallons of benzine in the truck. I have played the game in camp and worked well. The Bench: These conversions of motor vehicles must be stopped. You are liable to 12 months’ gaol or £lOO fine. You will be convicted and fined £l5. Defendant was allowed time in which to pay. INTOXCATED IN CHARGE OF TRUCK; NAVAL RATING FINED. Charged in the Taihape Magistrate's Court on Monday with being in charge of a navy truck in Hautapu Street, Taihape, on November 4, while in a state of intoxication, Able Seaman Robert Wenden McClinchie, attached to the W/T Naval Station at Waiouru, pleaded guilty. He was represented by Mr T. C. Kincaid. The presiding justices were Messrs N. Ashenden and W. Hudson. The prosecution was conducted by Sergeant L. Nicol, who said that defendant was the duty driver of a navy truck and brought a leave party to Taihape on Friday night. On the return iourney he left shortly after midnight accompanied by two other naval ratings and a soldier. On approaching the Hautapu River bridge the truck commenced to run off the road and accused swerved sharply back on to the road and capsized the truck about 14 feet from the bridge on the Taihape side. The vehicle roiled over before coming to rest in the centre of the road. The soldier in the truck received an injury to a shoulder and was taken to hospital, but has since been discharged. The others in the truck received minor cuts and abrasions. Damage was done to the cab, canopy and mudguard of the vehicle. The driver obtained a lift back to Taihape and renorted the accident to Constable R. Cross. The accused was observed to be under the influence of liquor and was brought to the Police Station and examined by Dr. D. L. Sinclair, who testified that he was intoxicated. McClinchie had adopted a threatening and hostile attitude towards the doctor, stated Sergeant Nicol. For the defence, Mr Kincaid said that his client had been dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming car and attributed the accident to this cause. A blow on the head had rendered accused unconscious for a few minutes and he might have borne the appearance of being intoxicated, said Mr Kincaid. A naval officer testified as to accused's good conduct. McClinchie was convicted and fined £lO and his licence cancelled for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay medical expenses amounting to £1 Is. RAILWAYMAN’S SUDDEN DEATH. Mr William Howard Edge, a wellknown and highly-esteemed member of the Taihape Railway staff, died suddenly at his residence in Mntnroo Road on Sunday. He was employed as an engine-driver and acted in this capacity on the express trains. He had been a resident of Taihape for many years and enjoyed a large measure of popularity in the railway service. He is survived by his wife and two sons and a daughter. He was 51 years of age. CONVERSION OF TRUCK A fine of £l5 was imposed upon Albert Anthony Zainey. lorry driver, employed i a the Residential Construetion Co. at Waiouru. when he appeared before Messrs. E. Loader and W. Annear J.P.’s at the Taihape Court yesterday on a charge of converting to his own use a 4-ton t/uck valued at £7OO, the property of the Fletcher Construction Co.