Negligent Handling Of Motor Cars

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 7

Negligent Handling Of Motor Cars

TWENTY-ONE CASES ON CIVIL LIST. CHIEF JUSTICE’S COMMENT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 1. The criminal session of tho Supreme Court opened to-day. Addressing the Grand Jury the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) said that the calendar contained the usual variety of charges, but included one that was unusual, the forgery of banknotes. "You will perhaps have observed that charges of negligent handling of motor cars are entirely absent, but gentlemen you must not infer from that that everything has been right in this district during the last two or three months in connection with the driving and handling of motor cars, because on inquiry from officers of the Court 1 am informed that although there are no criminal charges of negligence, there, are on the list of civil actions for trial, no fewer than fifteen running down cases and collision cases for trial before a Judge and Jury, and six for 1 trial before a Judge alone. You will agree, no doubt, that it is a fairly considerable number, especially when you take into consideration the known fact that a great many tascs, where injury happens in tho handling of motor cars, are settled out of Court and never reach the list of civil actions for trial. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST SOUTHERN MOTORIST. DUNEDIN, Last Night. The quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court commenced to-day before Judge Kennedy. Philip David Roper was charged with being intoxicated whilo in charge of a motor vehicle at Patcaroa and by act or omission in relation thereto causing the death of Ulrich Stephen Fahey. The whole of the day was occupied in hearing the evidence for the Crown and tho hearing was adjourned till to-morrow.