MASTER CONVICTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 5

MASTER CONVICTED.

TRAWLING WITHIN LIMITS

SMALL FINE IMPOSED

"I have no. daubt that defendant must be convicted in this case," said Mr. E C. Cutten, S.M., in the. Magistrate's Court on Saturday, when he imposed a fine of £5 1/ and costs on John Veale, master of Messrs. Sanford Limited's trawler Countess, who was charged with trawling for fish within a prohibited area in the Hauraki Gulf,

Mr. V. X. Hubble prosecuted, MrE. H. Northcroft appeared for SanfonU Limited, and Mr. Sehvyn Mays for defendant.

The magistrate added that the master had in all probability no intention of trawling within the limits, but, with the wind and tide tending to carry him over the line, he had cut it so. fine, that he was bound to complete the trawl within the prohibited area. The magistrate did not think that the master had intended to take fish from that area, but he had no business to take risks.

At Mr. Xorthcroft's request, the fine of £3 was increased by 1/. and security for appeal was fixed at £10 10/. Mr. Cutten expressed the opinion that the Minister should take no action as regards the confiscation of the trawler.

The magistrate said, in closing, that he thought that certain strictures passed en a young inspector who gave evidence were not justified.

Mr. Northcroft: I'd like your Worship to appreciate that T didn't pass any. The Bench: No, you didn't, Mr Mays remarked that he may have done so.