MORE CRIME.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 72, 7 January 1936, Page 4

MORE CRIME.

THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT. DECEMBER QUARTER FIGURES. A marked increase in the number of criminal cases and in the amount of fines paid is shown in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court returns for the quarter ended December 31, 1935, compared with the previous corresponding quarter! The fines increased by nearly £IOO, and the total fees by about £lls. There was an increase of 18 in criminal cases. Particulars are as follow, the figures for the same quarter in 1934 being given for a comparison:— Sittings presided over by a Magistrate—Civil 4 (4), criminal 4 (4); Justices of the Peace—Civil 5 (3), criminal 11 (12); totals 9 (7), 15 (16). Civil cases tried—Magistrate 1 (1), Justices of the Peace nil (nil); total 1 (1); cases heard in chambers 10 (3); children's court 3 (7)); plaints entered 72 (100); distress warrants issued 1 (1); judgment summonses 18 (10); warrants of conimittal nil (nil); writs of arrest nil (nil); summonses served by bailiff within one mile 51 (53); outside one mile 20 (19); warrants executed by bailiffs 6 (4); civil summonses served by registered post 23 (39); criminal cases tried, males 48 (31); females 3 (2); total 51 (33); civil fees paid £66 (£66 6s); criminal fines £lB 4s (£8); fines £ll2 17s (£ls 15s); Court of Review fees £8 15s; total £205 16s (£9O Is); amount sued for £867 16s 9d (£709 0s 9d); amount claimed in Court £290 Is 3d (£417 2s 8d); amount recovered £284 19s 3d (£232 10s sd).