CLERGYMAN FINED

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1931, Page 5

CLERGYMAN FINED

NEGLIGENT DRIVING. [by Telegraph, Per Press Association.} WELLINGTON, June 26. As the result of the collision on the Hutt load, near Kaiwarra, on Easter Monday afternoon last, Canon Peroival Ernest Jafhes, was prosecuted at the Police Court to-day for negligent driving and was fined, £*s. Canon James who had his wife and another relation in his car, had first swung out of the line of the traffic and he passed another car, when a collision occurred between h s tar and a motor cycle, carrying two people, who were severely injured. Canon James himself was also injured, and was absent from his duties for five weeks.

The Magistrate reviewing the case said he thought the real effective cause of the accident was Canon James’s negligence in driving as he had been on the wrong s'de of the road when ■the Tffons were not safe to do so.

Mr Treadwell submitted that, in the present case, the mere fact that a conviction had been entered would be a sufficient penalty. The Magistrate, however, said that two people had been iniuved. They might have been ktied. The defendant’s act had clearly been negligent and dangerous. He would have to be fined a substantial amount.