THEFT OF WOOL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22551, 5 November 1938, Page 9

THEFT OF WOOL

GAOL TERM IMPOSED "DELIBERATE AND SYSTEMATIC ACTION" . "The method employed shows that the actions -were deliberate and systematic. There are four charges, and none of them appears to be a crime of impulse, so the offence must be classed as very serious," said Mr H. Morgan, S.M., sentencing Gordon McDonald McCrea, a carpenter, aged 27 years, to six months' imprisonment with hard labour for stealing wool, in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. The locations of the thefts and the value of wool stolen wore: Waikari £24, Carew £6 and £4 10s, and Waimate £l3 15s 4d.

Sergeant J. F. Cleary said accused hired a covered van on October 11. stole a bale of wool and loose fleeces at Waikari, and returned, to Christchurch, where he sold the goods. Two days later, working from Gcraldine, he broke into two woolshcds at Carew and stole goods, which he disposed of at Timaru. Some of this wool had been recovered. On October 18 he stole a bale of wool at Waimate. and was attempting to sell it at Ashburton when Constable Kennedy recognised the brand on the bale and made the arrest. This type of crime was difficult to detect, particularly .when such systematic methods were used, concluded Sergeant Cleary. McCrea pleaded guiltv on each of the four charges, through Mr R. Kennedy, who made a plea for leniency, saying that accused had got into bad company. He had had a hard time in his youth, and was forced to live by his own resources. The Magistrate said a penalty must be imposed as a deterrent, and as a warning to others who might copy the methods of accused. He would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, on the first charge, and convicted and discharged on each of the others. Exceeding Speed Llniit For exceeding the speed limit of 25 miles an hour for heavy motor vehicles. William Charles Hobby was fined £2. "This penalty is imposed not. so ! much to deter dangerous drivers as to prevent excessive wear on the roads caused by speeding heavy vehicles, said Mr Morgan. A fine of £2 10s was imposed on Jean Nora Will for driving a motorcar at an excessive speed. Civil Cases Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in each of the following civil cases:—Russell and Company v. L. E. Meaclem, £4 Is 6d; New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association v. D. G. Cameron, £2 17s; G. Nutbrown v. J. E. Grice, 7s 6d; G. Nutbrown v. E. R. Bishop, lis 6d; J W. Strachan v. H. Baird, £1 12s lid; T. A. Bryant v. J. Elder £l. ft SCHOOL HOUSES PROTEST AGAINST SIZE MEN TEACHERS' GUILD MEETS In view of the exhaustive report prepared by the central executive at Timaru, a general meeting of the MidCanterbury branch of the New Zealand Men Teachers* Guild has decided to protest again against the size of houses being built as teachers' residences, as it was considered that in many cases the rooms were very small, and the bedroom accommodation inadequate. It was decided to recommend that standard plans be obtained by Education Boards, for approval by the New Zealand Educational Institute, and the New Zealand Men Teachers' Guild. Mr M. J. Leith presided. The meeting agreed that a letter should be sent to Mr H. E. Herring expressing appreciation of his services to education during the period which he represented Mid-Canterbury in Parliament. The secretary (Mr W. Hunter) reported the transfer of one member to the North Canterbury branch, and two new members were accepted. A long discussion was held on the registration of the national executive and branches. The meeting decided to take no further action in the matter.

£l2O FOR PROGRESS LEAGUE COUNTY COUNCIL MAKES "* CONTRIBUTION "The usefulness and necessity of such an organisation is appreciated, more particularly nc*w that these details have been brought before the notice of members," said a letter from the Methven branch of the Farmers' Union to the Ashburton County Council yesterday in reply to a communication from the council giving information concerning the council's contributions to the Canterbury Progress League, and the many activities of the league. The letter continued that the branch supported the council in continuing its contribution to the league if the council felt that the league was serving a good purpose. From a report in "The Press" it appeared that some members of the. council, at its last meeting, had expressed disapproval of the inquiries and action of the branch in discussing the matter, the letter said. The branch resented this attitude, particularly since it had been published, because it rather misrepresented the position. It was submitted that no attempt had been made to criticise the council or to interfere with its decision with or without any knowledge of the position. It was felt definitely that the Farmers' Union represented a fair proportion of ratepayers, and that it was perfectly justified in taking an intelligent ilfteresl in public matters. The letter was received without discussion. The council voted £l2O, the same sum as last year, to the funds of the league.

TRACTOR ON HIGHWAY FINE FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER "This is the first case of its kind to come before the Court at Ashburton," said Traffic Inspector W. G. Letham, charging Edward Woods with operat- v ing an unregistered taacVtt ow b, public highway, at the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday. The inspector stated that under a special regulation enforced in 1937, it was necessary to obtain registration plates and take out a coverage for third-party risk on tractors, although no charge was made for the registration. A fine of £1 was imposed by the Magistrate (Mr H. Morgan, S.M.),who said he could not ignore the case, but would impose a small fine as a warning to farmers to conform with the regufations.

STOCK JUDGING COMPETITION AT ASHBURTON SHOW Stock judging competitions were inaugurated at the annual show of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Thursday, when the re-cently-formed group of Young Farmers' Clubs took part in a contest organised by the AstibuKon d\stnct committee of the movement. Capable handling of the sheep which were judged, there being sections in both the English Leicester and Ryeland breeds, was shown by all of the competitors, demonstrating that a good knowledge of the points of stock had been gained at the demonstrations and lectures given during the year. Results were:— Members' competition: B. J. Simmons (Hinds) and D. G. Tait (Hinds), equal, 1; J. R. Fleming (Methyen). 3. Inter-club competition: Hinds (124 points), 1: Methven (92 points), .2; Mayfield (87 points). 3. The winning team was E. R. Withell, D. G. Tait, B. J. Simmons, and Alan McKenzie. The Hinds Club took advantage of the competition to decide the.winner of a trophy given by one of its supporters B. J. Simmons and D. G. Tait will therefore each hold the trophy for six months. Mr A.. N. Grigg was congratulated on his election as member of Parliament for Mid-Canterbury by the chairman of the Ashburton County Council (Mr H. J. Crothers) at the meeting of the council yesterday. Mr Crothers paid a tribute to the work of Mr H. E. Herring during his term as member for the district.

CHARGES FOR FIRE FIGHTING USE OP COUNCIL'S PLANT Conditions for the use of the Ashburton County Council's fire-fighting plant at Allenton were approved at the meeting of the council yesterday. A special report by Messrs J. Bland, J. Lowery, and H. J. Crothers, which "VW adopted, said that the use of the plant had been considered, and it "W3S recommended that transport to private fires be charged for at the rate of 6d a mile both ways, that wages for the firemen be charged, and that a minimum charge of £3 be made for the use of the engine and hose if operated, plus £ 1 an hour or part of an hour while ithe engine was in operation. The report said that the Tinwald Town Board was prepared to avail itself of the council's plant to fight fires at Tinwald, and would pay a retaining fee of £5 a year, plus £5 for each fire,attended. The Allenton Fire Brigade was prepared to undertake the responsibility of attending to any outbreaks of fire at Tinwald. If the council consented to the service, it should be on condition that the Town Board prepared and maintained any necessary sumps, erected the necessary indicators to the satisfaction of the Allenton Fire Brigade, and that the charges fo'r the service be paid into the fire brigade funds for renewal and maintenance of equipment.