SPEEDING AMBULANCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 9

SPEEDING AMBULANCE

—Press Assooiatlon.)

Driver Fined

IBr Telegraph

WHANGABEI, June 1. An txnusual case was brought before Mr. G. N. Morris, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, when Walter Armstrong Wilson was charged with driving a motor ambulance in the Whangarei Borough at a speed exceeding 30 miles an hour. Mr. Trimmer, for defendant, taid that defendant was doing purely gratuitous work for the St. John Ambulance, of which ho was a member. He had taken an infectious disease case to the hospital. In sueh cases it was necessary to spray the ambulance with formalin and to complete the whole trip as soon as possible, because not only did the formalip evaporate quickjy, but it was also injnrious to the eyes. Defendant 's eyes were actually watering when the journey was finished. The Magistrate, to ihe traffic inspe^tor: Have you had trouble previously with this driver or the St, John Ambulance^ The Inspector, Mr. J. H. Ashton: No, I have not. I would point out, however, that, although the ambulance is exempt from the speeding regulations, it is not so after a patient has been placed in hospital. The Magistrato: I will deal with this case leniently, but that is not an indication that I will permit such breaches to continne. A fine of 10s and costs was imposod.