On This Day, 28 December 1917

Birmingham Mail

Friday 28 December 1917

MOTOR CAR FOR SHOPPING

INTERESTING POINT IN A BIRMINGHAM CASE.

An important point was involved in proceedings heard today in the Fourth Court of Birmingham Police against John Milliken Smith, 22 Westfield Road, Edgbaston, and his chauffeur, Frank Ingram, who where summoned for using a motor-car contrary to the Motor Spirit Restriction Order. The case arose out of the use of the car for shopping by Mrs. Milliken Smith.

Mr. Sandlands, for defendants, urged that Mrs. Milliken Smith was entitled to use the car for the purchase of necessary provisions for the household. Further, the lady was an invalid incapable of walking far or of boarding a tramcar, and had to have a car specially constructed with a low step. The household had been reduced to three maids, none of whose in these days of shopping difficulties were capable of satisfactorily obtaining the family supplies.

While the Bench were considering their decision, Mr. Sandlands read and extract from a newspaper to show that a Stipendiary Magistrate in the London area had decided that a christening was to be regarded as a necessary household affair.

The magistrate decided that it was not absolutely necessary that Mrs. Smith should have been doing her shopping personally on this occasion, and each defendant was fined 20s.