DRIVER PUNISHED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21418, 12 May 1941, Page 8

DRIVER PUNISHED

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT FAILURE TO STOP Having pleaded guilty in the Lower Court to a charge of negligent driving, causing bodily harm to Alexander Linaspy McMertrie, on the CamOriage-Koiorua hignway on February IU, Pare Kaui, aged 68, a Maori farmer at Otorohanga, appeared before Mr Justice Johnston in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, today. A further charge against Kaui was that he failed lo stop after the accident. Mr H. T. Gillies appeared for the Crown and prisoner was represented by Mr W. J. King. Mr King said that Kaui had been obsessed with the idea that he was on the correct side of the road, and that he had hit a car and not a cyclist. Kaui had sold his car, and although it was a doubtful concession, he wished his driving license to be cancelled.

Kaui was a very good class of native, said Mr King, and for 30 years he was a shearer. At one time he held the shearing record for the North Island. He had been engaged in farming for the past 20 years. Good Police Record Mr Gillies said he had never read a better record from the police against an accused person. The prisoner’s commercial report was also very good. Kaui would have to pay in some way for the offence, said His Honour, but he did not think the case was one for probation. The man had an unblemished record, but under all the circumstances he should have known better than to go on after the accident. Kaui would be fined £2O, the first 'quarter of which would have to be paid by the end of the present month, the second quarter by the end of November, and the balance by the end of February, 1942. Kaui was also ordered to pay costs totalling £7 7s lid. His driving license was cancelled, and he was prohibitedfrom holding another.