AN IMPORTANT CASE

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18359, 19 June 1931, Page 2

AN IMPORTANT CASE

SUSPENSION OF LICENSE. irS'JRANCE COMPANY'S REQUEST. ALLEGED DANGER TO PUBLIC. CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. ' In the Magistrate’s Court the Southern Union General Insurance Company asked for an order suspending the driving license of William Millner, a contractor, on the grounds that he was a danger to the public. The application was made under section 14 of the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act, 1928, and was the first of the kind to come before the Courts in New Zealand. In its statement the company said flic application was made on the grounds that the safety of the public was being unduly endangered by Millner. The company also applied for an order disqualifying Millner from obtaining another license lor such period as the Court might- think lit. Millner was also charged on the information of the company with driving in a manner dangerous to the public on March 23. He pleaded not guilty. Counsel for the company stated that on October 15, 1929, Millner had been convicted of being intoxicated while in charge of a car. On that occasion he had collided in his car with a Post and Telegraph Department truck and had bolted off. On April 15, 1931, he had been convicted of negligent driving and failing to report an accident. He had knocked down a motor-cyclist and there was a claim against him now for £2500.

Counsel for accused stated that though the “Act had been in force since 1929 and since then there had been thousands of claims all over New Zealand Hie Southern Union had been the llrst company to take these proceedings. He would prove that Millner had taken his other insurances away from the Southern Union Company and that the company, seeing Dial it was left with the.risks of his third-party risk and had lost his £6O or £7O of premiums, had decided to come to the Magistrate to get his license taken away.

Defendant was then called as a witness.

“ This is the first ease of its kind that iias cropped up lo my knowledge in New Zealand,” said I lie Magistrate, ‘‘and 1 Itiink it deserves a little consideration. Judgment is reserved.”