RATANA FINED £25.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3584, 8 January 1927, Page 2

RATANA FINED £25.

DRUNK IN CHARGE OF MOTOR. Wanganui, January 7. Two charges were preferred, at (lie Magistrate’s Court this morning, against W. T. Ratana of driving a motor-car without a license, and being in charge of a car while in a state of intoxication. Senior-Sergeant Lopdell said that defendant had a motor driver’s license last year, but did not take out one during the current year, because lie had a man appointed to drive him. Yesterday lie took the .car and drove it himself. Constables Nairn and McAlpine noticed a car wobbling, and followed it into Ridgway Street and found defendant in charge of it. There was another man in the ear, who was more under the influence of liquor than defendant. Defendant’s condition would not have justified arresting him if he had not been in charge of the car. He was liberated on hail three hours later in the sum of £lO. The Magistrate asked the SeniorSergeant whether he could speak of defendant’s habits, and whether this was an isolated offence. The Senior-Sergeant replied that a period of defendant’s early career was associated with drink, but for a long time he seemed to have given up the practice. He had been observed during the past year under the influence of liquor. The Magistrate (to defendant): “Have you anything to say?” “No, sir,” replied Ratana. Defendant then asked, through the Senior-Sergeant, if his name could be suppressed, On a charge of driving without a

license a fine of £1 was imposed, and on the other charge he was fined. £25. In regard to the request- for suppression of the name, the Magistrate said, “I think that this is not a ease in which the - name should he suppressed. Defendant urges his standing and reputation. I think that there are some reputations which, in the public interest, should depend on character and manner of life, and should not.be bolstered up by an arbitarv act of a Court in proceedings like this.”