THE REAL DETERRENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 131, 4 June 1937, Page 8

THE REAL DETERRENT

LICENCE SUSPENSION.

OFFENDING MOTORISTS

Remarking that he considered the suspension of an offending motorist's licence was the real punishment, and more effective than a mere fine as a deterrent to other motorists, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, upheld the conviction of Charles Leonard Millier, a factory manager, who had been fined .£lO by Mr.'J. H. Luxford, S.M., in March last for driving-a motor-car j in the Mount Victoria tunnel at a speed which might have been dangerous to the public. Millier had also had his licence suspended and was prohibited from obtaining another for a further six months. In his Honour's judgment the fine and suspension were not varied.

In the appeal against the conviction, Mr. W. P. Rollings appeared for the appellant and Mr. W. H. Cunningham lor the Crown.

Mr. Rollings, in his, final submissions, said the appellant had gone to the police and made what he considered a straightforward statement. In view of the conviction, Millier now felt that he might be regarded as a perjurer.

His Honour agreed that honest mistakes could be made, and said he preferred to accept the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution. He had not. suggested for a moment that the appellant had been dishonest, but he had made some egregious blunders in his evidence. Speaking generally, the penalty for reckless or dangerous driving should be. commensurate with the possible effects of the act.