THAT WILD DRIVE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 737, 9 August 1929, Page 1

THAT WILD DRIVE

PROBATION FOR YOUNG MECHANIC BORROWED TWO CARS As a sequel to his wild ride to Hamilton in somebody else's motor-car, Selwyn Theodore Gustafson appeared in the Police Court this morning on a charge of converting to his own use a motorcar valued at £360 and belonging to another person. There was a second charge of converting to his own use a car valued at £IOO and the property of the New Zealand Insurance Company on August 1. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., admitted Gustafson to probation for three years, remarking that he had been persuaded to follow this course by the probation officer's report. Accused was ordered to make restitution of £SO, £ll to be paid as damages to the motorist whose car was struck by Gustafson in the course of his trip to Hamilton. The magistrate also ordered that no driving licence be issued to Gustafson for five years.

Mr. Goulding pointed out that Gustafson, who was only 19, was a motor mechanic and had to test cars in the course of his work. Counsel suggested that a restrictive licence be granted so that the youth could carryon with his present occupation. “The boy cannot pay the £SO if he is robbed of his employment,” counsel concluded.

“Yes,” countered the magistrate. “If I grant him a restrictive licence, every time he comes up he will say that he was only out testing.” Mr. Hunt was of the opinion that an application for a licence might be favourably considered at the end of the probationary period if Gustafson behaved himself satisfactorily. “There is another young man doing six months now as the result of one accident,” he said. “Gustafson was in two, both of which might quite easily have been fatal.” For driving w-ithout a licence, Gustafson was fined 10s and costs.