CHIEF JUSTICE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 5

CHIEF JUSTICE

REFERENCES TO MOTOR FATALITIES.

(By Telegraph—Pre* Awooiation).

PALMERSTON N., May 6.

Reference to the increasing number of motor fatalities were made by the Chief Justice in his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court'session.' Commenting on two cases for trial, involving the deaths of three persons, he stated such fatalities were becoming all too frequent and very, very serious. The great district like that you represent is to be congratulated that it does not require more than two criminal cases for trial,- added his . Honour, although I do not know it will be a matter for congratulation, having regard to the observations I have made. It is a fact these cases are not criminaT ones in the ordinary sense, they are cases in which the circumstances, will be fully investigated as there involves in one instance the - death of two fellow creatures and in the other case one. T

Proceeding to discuss both cases, his Honour added that one could scarcely take up a newspaper now without seeing fine or more or many more of these tragedies reported. Tlie quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning. True bills were returned in the oasi of Charles Wright Harvey, alleged reckless driving of . a motor car and causing death, and Leonard Douglas Alnderson, alleged negligent .driving a motor cycle and causing death.

The trial of Harvey was then proceeded with. The charges were a sequel to the fatality which occurred on the Rangitikei line at Newbery or January 18 last, when accused’s car and a motor cycle collided, HectorClarence Eggleton and Bertram Cecil Eaglehurst, driver and pilion rider respectively of the motor- cycle being killed. Accused, a farmer, of Waverlev, was driving from town and the two deceased were proceeding to Bunnythorpe when the fatality occurred at a road intersection.