TRUCK DRIVER’S LUCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 649, 29 April 1929, Page 1

TRUCK DRIVER’S LUCK

LICENCE NOT CANCELLED FINED FOR INTOXICATION “You were lucky on Saturday and you are lucky to-day,” commented Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when he fined James Patrick Shaw £lO at the Police Court this morning for being intoxicated in charge of a motor vehicle. Accused was prohibited and his licence was endorsed. Shaw, described as a blacksmith, aged 42, pleaded guilty to the charge. He was not represented by counsel. "This man had good luck on Saturday, but refused to take advantage of it,” remarked Sub-Inspector McCarthy. “He was advised hy a police sergeant, who saw him cranking his truck, that it would be better for him to leave the vehicle and go home. He appeared to think that this was good advice and collected his traps preparatory to starting up the street. Later the sergeant was informed that Shaw was driving his truck along Belgium Street where he was arrested.” The sub-inspector described Shaw as having been drunk enough to lock up, but quite orderly. Shaw’s employer, for whom he worked as a truck-driver, gave the man an excellent character. He was a splendid worker and this was the first time that, it had been necessary to find fault with him. Mr. Hunt: If I cancel his licence he will lose his position. 1 wonder whether a prohibition order would stop him drinking? Shaw: I am not in the habit of drinking. Mr. Hunt: If you are, you certainly won’t be driving a lorry for long. “I don’t want to make another man unemployed,” said the magistrate as he imposed the fine and ordered the endorsement Of the licence. Shaw was given 14 days to find the money.