OUTSPOKEN JUDGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 260, 1 October 1940, Page 8

OUTSPOKEN JUDGE

CASE FROM TARANAKI

YOUNG MAN’S OFFENCE

Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. Tlie opinion that the police should at once investigate' the administration of the licensing laws in the Stratford district was expressed in t.he Supreme Court to-day by .Mr Justice Ostler when admitting James Itonald Hugh Morrieson, aged IS, a student, to two yrnars’ probation for failing to stop after an accident. Mr Justice Ostler was commenting on the fact that Morrieson had been able to obtain two dozen bottles of beer from a brewery on credit, and 6aid the facts connected with the case disclosed a disgraceful state of affairs. Addressing Morrieson, he said: ‘‘Here are you, a boy of only 18 years of age. You are not earning a penny, and are apparently living on the charity of your mother, and yet you seem to be able to own a motor-car. I do not know whether you actually own it. but you have the use of-it, and in these days of a shortage of petrol j'ou seem to have petrol to go 10 dances. That is not so bad, but here are you, a boy of 18. able to go to a brewery and buy two dozen bottles of beer, and not even i>av for it. “They take this order, and book it to a boy like you. It seems to me there is something wrong with the administration of the licensing law in your part of the world, and it seems to me j to s 'be the duty of the police to find out how a bov is able to obtain two dozen bottles of beer on credit. I think Ithe police ought at once to take a hand in an investigation of that. “That is beside the point. Having supplied yourself .with this beer and picked up carefree young bloods of your own age, you go to a, dance, drinking on the way. What right have I you to do that? What does your j mother think? l r ou go to the dance, then drive off without lights. You feel a bumn, and have not the moral [courage to stop and see whether you have hit something. You do not deserve much leniency at all. “You are a University student hoping to get a degree and you ought to bo one of the young fellows setting an example in the country instead of behaving like that. Solely on the ground of your youth. I propose to accept the recommendation of the probation officer and grant vou probation.” The conditions laid down bv the Judge include an order not to attend dances, not be out after 8 p.m., and to pay the costs £4 8s lid. ihc driving license is cancelled with two years’ deprivation.