DRUNKEN DRIVER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 45, 19 February 1946, Page 5

DRUNKEN DRIVER

COLLISION SEQUEL

MAORI HEAVILY FINED

A serious collision involving a car and a truck in Goulstone Road late on Thursday found sequel in the Whakatane Court last Friday, when two Maoris, appeared before Messrs G. A. Brabant and C. 11. Christensen J.P.'s. Tom Wahaponga Kingi a returned . soldier of the Maori Battalion t and resident at Pa- 1 roa was charged, with being in a state of intoxication whilst in charge J of a truck. He was further charged (with not being the holder of a driver's license. Accused pleaded guilty to both counts and elected summary trial. Sergeant Farrcll stated that accused, had come to Whakatane on Thursday and had spent the day in town ivith another Maori. At 5 p.m. he left for home. He was- proceeding down Goulstone Road on his wrong side and had only gone a short dis»tance when he collided -with a car s the occupants of which were injured as a result. When later seen by the police his speech was slow and he appeared to be intoxicated. He was later examined by a doctor, w T ho certified his condition. Accused had served five years overseas had held a commission and was of good character.

The police asked that accused be prohibited from holding a driver'fe license for twelve months. Mr Brabant stated that the charge was recognised by the Court as beiing a very serious one. The Sergeant however had shown that ae* cused had a good character and rather than send him to prison, the Bench would impose a 'fine but it would of necessity be a substantial one.

A fine of £25 plus £1 Is doctor's fee was imposed and an order made prohibiting accused from holding a license for a period of twelve months.

Tame Kereti, of Paroa, the other Maori involved in the case pleaded guilty to a charge of being found drunk in a public place, and was fined the sum of £l.