SWERVED INTO FENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 5

SWERVED INTO FENCE

INTOXICATED DRIVER MAORI HEAVILY FINED Remarking that he had some doubt as to whether defendant did not deserve imprisonment, but his licence would be cancelled for 12 months, Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., fined Ramiha Poari, labourer, Putiki, £2O, with costs 3s, and doctor’s fee £1 Is ,in the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court yesterday, lor being intoxicated while in charge of a motor-car. Poari alleged that he swerved his car to avoid a girl cyclist on the main road at Putiki on February 18, and finished up by running his car through a fence. Sergeant R. J. F. Whiting, who conducted the case for the police, said that Paori almost ran down a school girl riding a bicycle. He swerved the car to avoid tne cyclist and then ran into a fence, ana left, the car there and went to his home. The police were informed and on going tn Putiki found that Paori was under the influence of liquor. He Weis later examined by Dr. J. Anderson.

Mr. W. S. Thrush, who appeared for Poari, said said that Poari admitted having had some drink after work on Saturday. He saw a girl wobbling on her bicycle and in swerving to avoid her the front wheels of the car probably locked and he went into the fence, where he had been advised to leave the car. He did not think that he was drunk at the time and considered he was capable of driving.