THE GAME LAWS

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1926, Page 5

THE GAME LAWS

SPORTSMEN IN TROUBLE. GREY TEAL AND PUKEKO. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society prosecuted several persons for various ofTences tit the Police Court to-day, Mr. West appearing for the society. Walter Spinley, of Matamata. and Edward Charles Young, also of Matamata, were each charged with being in possession of native game (pukeko), failing to produce licenses when requested, also with being in possession of absolute!v protected game, a grey teal. The ranger, Mr. Y'ercx, gave evidence that on May 4, at Mercer, he saw both defendants and inquired what they had in their car. He was advised to have a look himself and did so. Witness found a grey teal, several pukeko and pheasants. He asked defendants if they bad licenses, and Spinley told him that he had one, but left it up north. This witness found afterwards to be incorrect. Spinley did not admit that the teal was his and Young.said that he would take it. Mr. West produced a letter sent by Spinley to the society, in which he stilled that he had no intention of defrauding the society as he had once been connected with it. lie was under the impression that pukeko was allowed to be taken in some districts. Mr. West suggested to the magistrate thai, Spinley must have been fully acquainted of what he was doing.

Young, who pleaded not guilty, stated that he had no occasion to have a license as he had no gun and did not shoot. He was the owner of the car and was driving Spinley at. the time. lie did not shoot any of the game. The grey teal was picked Up and was not shot by either himself or Spinley. Defendant produced the society's printed sheet, in which it was stated that for a certain period pukeko could be shot in Piako and another count v.

Mr. West said that this did not apply to the district where the pukeko was shot.

Mr. Poynton told Young that as the car belonged to him he would have to accept responsibility for having in bis possession the grey teal and pukeko. (In the charges of having the teal and failing to produce his license lie would be fined £5 ami costs on each charge. As Mr. West, had admitted that there was a misunderstanding about the taking of pukeko, defendant would he con vk-ted and discharged on the charge in respect of this game. Spinley was lined £5 and costs for failing lo produce his license, and a similar sum plus costs for having in his possession, pukeko. Shooting Without Licenses. Two youths Erie Bridson and William John Bridson, each charged with failing to produce licenses to take game, represented by Mr. .xcwburv, pleaded not guilty. Mr. Newbury submitted that one of the defendants had permission to shoot on a neighbour's property and took his brother with him. However, only one was out for game, the other for rabbits. Counsel submitted that the offences were only of a technical nature. One of tlie brothers admitted to the ranger (hat lie was out for game, while the oilier who said he was out for rabbits, in being cro-~ examined by Mr. West, replied that he was out to'shoot anything Under the circumstances, stiid the magistrate, he could not do otherwise than to inflict the minimum penalty in each case a line of L's and costs. He regretted having to do so us both 11 id been Very truthful about the matter.