DRIVE OR DRINK?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 781, 30 September 1929, Page 1

DRIVE OR DRINK?

INTOXICATED MOTORIST PREFERS DRIVING FINE OF IMPOSED Confronted with the question of whether he would give up driving or drinking. Harold Francis O’Grady, charged at the Polics Court this morning with being intoxicated in charge of a motorcar, intimated through his counsel, Mr. J. J. Sullivan, that hs would prefer to retain his driving licence. Q'GRADY, a motor mechanic, aged 33. pleaded guilty and Mr. Sullivan asked for leniency, giving it sa his opinion that the case was not serious. According to Sub-Inspector McCarthy, accused, with some sailors, had tried to enter a restaurant in Queen Street at 10.30 o’clock on Saturday night. , A constable had been attracted to the scene by the noise and told the men to get away. “This one was arrested as he started the car,” added the sub-inspector. "His last appearance before the court was in 192(5. when he was prohibited." Mr. Sullivan explained that, though it sounded improbable, it was really true that O'Grady had a cold and had bought a shilling’s worth of rum as a cure. “He intended to take it before going to bed, but had it too early,” said counsel. ‘'This man wanted a ! doctor on Saturday night, but be couldn't get one as he had only 12s, and a doctor could not be obtained for less than £1 Is. I am not blaming the police for that, but the man could not have been badly intoxij cated. His employers are quite willi ing to keep him on and they have j every confidence in him for they know that he is not now a heavy drinker.”

“It is difficult to know what to do in these cases,” commented Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. “Fines seem to be no deterrent, but this case seems to b. on all fours with one I had last week, so I shall treat the man similar'jr.” O’Grady was fined £lO and a prohibition order was issued.