INTOXICATED MOTORIST

Taranaki Central Press, Volume V, Issue 457, 26 June 1937, Page 6

INTOXICATED MOTORIST

PENALTY INADEQUATE Mr Semple’s Criticism Press Association —Copyright. Christchurch, June 25. “It seems that the only option left i to me as Minister of Transport in my i endeavours to make the highways I and by-ways as safe as possible by j getting rid of the drunken driver is | to amend the law so that judgments lof this kind cunnot be given by justices of the peace,” said Hon. R. i Semple to-day in commenting on tne decision of two justices in a Blenheim case in which a motorist pleaded guilty to a charge of intoxication while in charge of a car. The justices fined the offender £5 and granted an application for the suppression of his name. “It is another demonstration, and a glaring one,” said Mr Semple, “of the leniency with which some justices view cases of drunken drivers brought before them. A Magistrate would never have handled this case in such a way, and the court records prove that beyond «all doubt this man was fined a paltry- £5 without his license being endorsed, and his name was suppressed. “Suppresfton of the name to my mind is nothing more or less than discrimination, and «a miscarriage of justice, it should not take place in administering the law in serious crises where public life is at stake Where any man who gets intoxicate ed takes charge of a car and is brought before the court the people of New Zealand' should know who that man is. Publication of his name is the greatest deterrent against him roing it kgain. 'lt is not the fine so much as the exposure that prevents 1 him doing it again.” Mr Semple scid he had issued a warning to justices, and it seemed i that they took no notice of it. “Le-t me repeat,” he added, “that 175 innocent New Zealand persons have' lost their lives, in the past seven years through drunken drivers.