GIVING FOOD AWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 11

GIVING FOOD AWAY.

SHIP'S FIREMAN FINED. UlflOIT COMPANY'S PROPERTY. "THIS CONSTITUTES THEFT." (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The privileges of seamen in the use of ships' stores were defined by Mr. E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when John Joseph McMahon, a fireman on the Manuka, was charged with having stolen a tin of condensed milk and a tin of tea, valued at 5/6, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company.

A constable stated that he accosted accused and another fireman, John Patrick Kelly, on the waterfront last evening. McMahon was carrying the milk and the tea, and said they were surplus stores which he was giving to Kelly, who was on the Port Hunter and could not get any milk or tea on that ship. Sub-Inspector Lander said it had been laid down that ships' stores, although unconsumed, were still the property of the ship.

"This constitutes theft," said the magistrate, to the defendant, who had pleaded not guilty. "The stores- are issued for your consumption and are not to be taken away. This is a little different from a case of pillaging, and I propose to fine yon £2, in default seven days' imprisonment."

The Sub-Inspector asked for the withdrawal of the charge against Kelly of receiving property, knowing it to have been stolen, as the Port Hunter had that morning sailed for England and Kelly had been placed on board. The application wag granted.