TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 225, 23 October 1929, Page 5

TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT

MOTORIST APPEARS BEFOltE MAGHSTRATE. WAS SEEN BY A CONSTABLE. Clu'i.stopher Haldane was charged at the Hastings Magistrate's Court tliis mornmg, before 3ir A. Al. Mowlem, SAl., with, on September 24, at Ha.stings, driving a motor ear at a speed wliich might have been dangerous to the public. Defendant plcaded uot guiltv. Constahle R. R. Dunn staled that he was standing at the corner of Heretaunga and Russell strcets, wlien he saw defendant's car cross the intcrseetiou at a speed he estiinated at 30 miles an hour. Defendant, in evidenee, ndmitted that he crossed the intersection at more than his usual speed, but he did so to avoid another car. After getting past this car, defendant slackened his pace again Through liis action he avoided an aceident. His Wors.hip : But you had an ac-ci-dent, in that Constable Dunn saw you ! Defendant referred to a recent decision of a magistrate in Wellington who held that a motorist was not in tlie wrong if he went on'the wrong side of the road to avoid an accident. His Worship: Yes. Ycs, that's tlie first tiiue I've had it pnt to me. hut I've lieen expecting it for a long timo. A fine of L2. costs 10s, rvas inflicted.