COMMUNITY SERVICE COSTS CAR DRIVER £l0

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 221, 7 December 1927, Page 9

COMMUNITY SERVICE COSTS CAR DRIVER £lo

PROHIBITION IGNORED INSPECTOR ENJOYS RIDE Charged in the Traffic Court this morning with continuing to run * C car d «*p!te the recen: prohibition of the court, William fcdward Parkinson was fined £lO and costs by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. Mr. Mackay, for the City Council, said that it would be shown that Parkinson had completely ignored the court's decision, and was surreptitiously continuing the community service by picking up passengers and charging fares. Anthony Ball, traffic inspector, gave evidence that in company with his brother he was walking in Dominion , i,ov ™ber 4. They hai.ed defendant s car, a seven-seater vehicle which stopped. ’ “1 am not in the habit of picking up strangers,” said the driver. Do you live out this way?” However, the brothers got in. On the way to the city the car drew in t° the pavement as a gesture of invitation to a pedestrian standing on the Kerb, continued the witness. the potential passenger ignored the car, evidently preferring a tram. “He must be a Presbyterian,” muttered Parkinson, as he drove on. “I have had only two passengers to-day.” “Well, why do you not show a destination sign?” inquiretd the inspector, who was in plain clothes. “It would cost me £SQ if I did,” was the reply. ‘ What is the fare?” asked the inspector. It was sixpence. Witness then handed the driver Is for himself and brother, which was pocketed. Ball said that he observed the driver receive something from another passenger, presumably his fare, which he put in his pocket. Parkinson. In the witness-box, said that he was merely running the car four trips daily for the convenience of a few of his friends, who were guaranteeing Jr© promissory notes on his car, and paying for the benzine. They paid him what they thought fit for his services. He had promised his solicitor, on the court’s decision that community cars were illegal, that he would conform to the law, and had kept his word. In asking for the maximum penalty, Mr. Mackay said the defendant had carried on r direct contravention of the city’s by-law. Mr. Schramm contended that charging a fare on one occasion did not mean that Parkinson was running a community car service. He was in the same position as a man who made one bet being designated a bookmaker. “Ten pounds and costs, witnesses’ expenses £l, and solicitor’s fee £1 Is,” decided Mr. Hunt.