COURT CASES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 5, 17 October 1941, Page 4

COURT CASES.

UNREGISTERED MAN EMPLOYED. COUNTY COUNCIL FINED. In the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., the Ashbmton County Council (Mr R. Kennedy) was charged with havin'! employed, between May 1 and July 31. 1941, a person who was not enrolled in the General Reserve (W. J. Culloty). A plea of guilty was entered.

It was stated that the man had been asked to produce his certificate, which he did, but. lie had been employed for some time before that, when he was not enrolled. The Council employed many men, and this was the first ca*e of the kind it had had.

Mr Kennedy said it was an unfortunate case. In September, 1940, all employees' liable were asked to produce their certificates. A brother of the man concerned had been employed and lie was in the Second Division. Later, the other man was engaged and it was believed the men were one and the same, the different initials not being noticed. E. R. Hopwood, in charge of the County Council records relating to the staff, gave evidence on the lines of counsel’s statement. A man named Culloty had been engaged each year tor a long time past for several months of casual work, beginning about April. In April of this year the brother started work and it was asumed this was the same man previously employed. The Council employed about 100 men, many of whom were never seen by the staff in the office. To the Magistrate: Both ; Cullotys were known to the water ranger, who engaged them. , The Magistrate: So he, as the see vnnt of the Council, should have seen that the men were enrolled. The office staff, apparently, were not so much to blame as the water ranger, who let them down. The Council was fined £3, with 1 is costs. Reservist Not Enrolled. William Joseph Culloty (Mr W. H. Woods] was charged with having failed to apply for his registration certificate in tho Reserve. A plea ot guilty was entered. It was stated that defendant was a single man, 38 years of age. He failed to apply for his certificate of enrolment within $8 days of the proclamation. He had stated that he thought the filling in of the Social Security form was sufficient. Defendant was a .man who did not mix much with others and probably did not know the requirements.

Mr Woods said that defendant lived alone, did not read the newspapers very much and had no radio. His impression was that the Social Security form was sufficient. He had enrolled as soon as his brother had discussed the question of his escape from the ballots. The Magistrate said it was the duty of everyone to see that ho. was enrolled. '

Defendant was fined £2, with 12s costs.

Liquor T*ear Dance-hall. Frederick Hill was charged with having had liquor in his control noai a dance-hall in Ashburton when a dance was in progress. Ho pleaded guilty. Albert Thomas Bright was charged with having liquor in his possession near a dance-hall. He did not appear. Ronald Francis Hill was charged with having aided Bright in the com-' mission of an offence, namely, of having liquor in his possession near a dance-hall.

R. Hill, when asked to plead, stated that he could not .4ee how he could have been aiding and abetting an of' fence by Bright. Bright, it was stated, was a member of the band at Burnham Military Camp, The Magistrate said the police could not obtain a conviction against R. Hill unless a conviction was entered against Bright. Senior-Sergeant J. F. Cleary produced a statement made by Bright, who said he was asked by R. Hill to have a drink, and he went with the two Hills behind a garage and drank beer, which F. Hill said he had brought from his home. F. Hill said he had brought Bright out of the hall to give him a drink, seeing that Bright was a soldier.

R. 1 Hill’s statement was taken as a plea of not, guilty. Constable H. A. Sayer said he was with Senior-Sergeant Cleary when he saw three men (those charged) standing 50 yards from the dance-hall. One man had a bottle in his hand. Bright admitted that he had had liquor, and the others made similar admissions. The Magistrate said that, R. Hill had not caused Bright to leave the hall. Senior-Sergeant Cleary claimed that R. Hill had, by encouraging the drinking, aided in the commission of an offence. F. Hill was fined £2, with 10s costs. Bright was fined £2, with 10s costs. R. Hill was fined £2, with 10s costs. Cycle Without Light. .Tames Alexander Young was charged with having ridden a bicycle at night without a light, and was fined 10s, with 10s costa. Civil Business. / In a judgment summons case. K. Armstrong was ordered to pay £8 Is 6d to D. F. A. McDonald forthwith, together with 15s 6d costs, in default seven days in tho Ashburton Gaol.