LEVIES NOT PAID.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 187, 22 May 1931, Page 4

LEVIES NOT PAID.

HINDS MEN FINED £2. FIRST CASES IN ASHBURTON. Several residents of Hinds were brought before .Mr C. R. Urr vVatJcer, S.M., in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court this morning, charged with having failed to pay uieir unemployment levies, juicli defendant was uiiecl £2 and costs. .Sir R. T. Bailey appeared for the Labour Department. John Beattie Be«gs, a labourer, was charged with defaulting in tlie payment or tiie December and March instalments of tlie fevy, contrary to Section 6 or tlie unemployment Aft. .Defendant did not appear. Similar charges were pi ef erred against the following: Ceorge Barry, tanner; Hugh .Southward Donaid-son, xarin labourer; Jack Donaldson, motor driver; John Hickey, junr., labourer; William Francis Tiison, mill owner; ihomas McGiJJ Sim, baker; Samuel John McDowell; William James Baxter McDowell, blacksmith; Edward Henry Stewart McDowell, farmer; and Arthur Alexander Hood, motor driver, all of Hinds. Hickey said that he paid the'two instalments and the fines on May 3. He did not have the money to pay before then. W. J. B. McDowell pleaded guilty. Tiison, who said he paid, his two instalments on May 5, pleaded guilt;}! to the charge. Mr Bailey said the cases were taken under the' Unemployment Act. A month's grace was allowed to payees, but none of the defendants had paid in.accordance with the Act. Constable A. jC. White said that he interviewed Beggs, who said he had not paid because fie had not enough money to pay the levies. Berry said ne was not in a. position to pay. J. Donaldson said his non-payment had been an oversight. A. A. Hood said lie would pay as soon as he jpt some money. V. J. B. McDowell said his financial position had kept him from paying, ri. J. K. .McDowell said he had not been at Hinds when the Post Office was open. E. H. S. McDowell said he had not had the money. T. McG. Sim said he had been unable to pay the levy. W. 1 F. Tiison said he also had no money to pay. H. S. Donaldson said he was out of' work but was on his father's farm without pay. He would pay when he. could. Hickey said he had not had the money to pay the levy vas lie had other debts to pay. , W. J. B. McDowell said he had had heavy expenses with a doctor to whom some* was still owing. Each defendant was convicted. Mr Bailey said there was no suggestion that defendants had been trying to dodge payment. Each was fined £2 and 12s costs.