HELD UP RACE TRAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 212, 26 November 1927, Page 11

HELD UP RACE TRAM

DR. THACKER FINED Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. “That Henry Thomas Joynt Thacker did abet Gerald Wood to commit a breach of the by-laws by fouling the tram-track/* This was the wording of the charge preferred against Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, who, with his chauffeur, Gerald Wood, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court today before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., and pleaded not guilty to the holding up of a race tram in Manchester Street on Cup Day by fouling the line with the doctor’s motor-car. Wood was also charged with allowing the car to be in the track so as to impede the traffic. Sergeant Almond said that on November 5 defendant had his car parked opposite Coker’s Hotel in Manchester Street. The car was in such a position that it obstructed tram traffic. A tramway motorman, after ringing his bell, asked the chauffeur to move the car, but the defendant Thacker would not allow him to. A constable came along and told Wood to move, but Thacker told Wood to take his instructions from him (Thacker). It was Cup Day, and the tram, which drew a trailer, was laden with people going to the races. The magistrate said it was a great pity that Dr. Thacker, being a responsible citizen, did not in his discretion say to the chauffeur, “Certainly, shift the car.” This charge had been amply sustained. The chauffeur was convicted and discharged and Dr. Thacker was fined £1 and costs.