MOTORIST FINED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 4

MOTORIST FINED.

CASE AT FEILDING. An echo of an incident last July was heard in the Magistrate’s Court at Feilding yesterday, when a charge of negligent driving was perferred against Arthur Charles Fowler, storekeeper and manager, of Hamilton. In July, as the result of a complaint by Mr G. H. 0. Wilson, M.P., the police commenced to search for Fowler on a charge of driving a motor-cai in a negligent manner. After the lodging of the complaint Fowler was interviewed in Wanganui and made a statement. It was then decided to prosecute him under the traffic regulations, but service of the summons was not effected until recently, when defendant was located serving as a seaman on an ocean freighter. At the hearing of the case yesterday Mr Wilson gave evidence that lie was driving his car front Wanganui to Bulls on an evening in July when he was passed by a car travelling at about 50 m.p.h. Later this car slowed down and witness passed, but before long the car, which it was later estabI'shed was driven by defendant, passed witness’s car again. This went on for some time, defendant’s car travelling in a very erratic manner and at times very fast. At Bulls witness nttemnted to stop defendant, who speeded through the township. Evidence was given by a police constable from Wanganui that he had interviewed defendant, who stated that be had motored through from. Hamilton on the dav in question. His car brok° down on the Parapara Road and he had borrowed another car in

Wanganui in order to proceed to Palmerston North. _ He admitted having had three drinks in Wanganui before setting out for Palmerston North. Defendant did not appear but forwarded a letter requesting an adjournment, to which the police object-j ed. Sergeant Turner stating that the police had been endeavouring to locate defendant for over six months. Defendant had been notified of the proceedings and the police would oppose any adjournment. , In imposing a fine of £o and costs 16s the Magistrate, Mr R. M. Watson, remarked that defendant was lucky he was not charged with a more sen- ! ous offence.