HEAVY PENALTY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 5

HEAVY PENALTY.

UNCUSTOMED GOODS SOLD. (P.A.) DUNEDIN, November 35. Mr W. H. Bundle, S.M., gave his reserved decision this morning in the case in which John Cunningham, an hotelkeeper, was charged on three counts with having assisted as agent in the sale of uncustomed goods, namely, a quantity of hair combs and hair nets. The Magistrate said that, in his opinion, the defendant had given false evidence as to what took place when he obtained the combs from a man named C. A. Craib, and sold them, and that he was clearly aiding and abetting him in the offence of smuggling. The defendant was convicted and fined £3O with costs (10s), solicitor’s fee (£3 3s), on each information. The Magistrate added that he thought it his duty to refer to the action of the purchasers of the combs and hair nets, J. D. McClatchy, a hairdresser, and J. T. Race, manager of the United Friendly Societies’ dispensary. At the present time, most types of imported goods were in short, supply, when goods of an unusual nature were offered for sale, it was the cleai dury of the purchasers to make full and careful inquiries as to the source of supply. On the evidence before him this could not have been done. The purchasers were apparently only too ready to seize the chance of obtaining the goods they desired. The Magistrate fixed security for appeal at £lO 10s in each case, and made a formal order for the forfeiture of tlie goods concerned.