ZIG-ZAG DRIVING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 16

ZIG-ZAG DRIVING

INTOXICATED HAWKER COLLIDES WITH CAR FINED AND LOSES FRUIT (From Our Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Wednesday. “If it had not been for your business and the constable’s good report, I would have taken your licence away.” Those remarks were addressed by Mr. F. 11. Levien, S.M., to George Alfred Paul, the driver of the motorlorry which crashed into a car on the Groat South Road south of Mercer on Monday afternoon.. Two women wer* injured by fiying glass. Paul appeared in the Pukekohe court yesterday and was remanded until today on a charge of being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor vehicle. Sergeant Cowan said that two women were driving from Hamilton to Auckland on Monday afternoon wheu they observed a motor-lorry approaching them on a zig-zag course. Thi ca** was deviated to the left, but was struck by the lorry, which was not stopped. Accused was later found half a mile further on, the lorry having been precipitated over a bank. “When arrested by Constable G. N. Douglas, accused said he was dazzled by the lights of two motor-lorries. This was at 4.40 p.m.,” added the sergeant. “I have been very sick. The one brandy I consumed at Drury and the two at Mercer upset me,” stated Paul. Tho accident was due to an error of judgment, the road being very wet at the sides. “My wholo load of fruit valued at £29 and my spare-wheel was stolen during the night,” proceeded accused. Constable Douglas said accused was a fruit-hawker and had been travelling to and from Hamilton for two years past. The offence was his first. Tears commenced to fill Paul’s eyes as ho stated lie had been unemployed for two years and had only been in his present position for two months. Accused pleaded with the magistrate not to deprive him of his licence. “I promise I won’t drink again,” he said. The constable stated that fruit valued at approximately £IS had been stolen from Paul’s lorry. A fine of £ls was imposed, three months being allowed for payment of it.