MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23361, 21 June 1941, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

—♦- —- FRIDAY

(Before Mr'E. C. Levvey, S.M.)

RESERVIST FAILS TO ENROL Another, case - of a reservist, because of ignorance of his. obligations, failing’ to enrol in the National Reserve and a company, retaining his services was ■ heard.: Sub-Inspector E. T. C. Turner said that when Walter Garland -Argus, the reservist concerned, had , found, in March, that his social security registration was : not sufficient ■‘to enrol him, he had 1 written to the Director of National Service and applied for registration, saying that he had no wish to evade his responsibilities. , . . The Magistrate: If a man tries to enrol, can’t-we do_ without ..the prose-, cution? 1 - Sub-Inspector Turner; Those are the Instructions we have, had from .the’ Director of National Service. » The Magistrate: If a man finds he has‘made-a -mistake and to eijrol surely that ■is sufficient —it’s not a matter of instructions;: it’s just common sense. , , . - Appearing for Argus and the defendant firm, Mason, Struthers ahd .Company, Mr. A. N. Mackay said that it was nor more than a technical offence. The company, after the regulations had come, into force, had made a careful check-up, but, by some slip, Argus had been missed. Argus had just come into the employ of the compahy and \yas just 19, Mr Mackay said;' In March, however, Argus had been'asked, about his enrolment, • and it was found that he had filled in and sent a form, applying for registration. It Was only after, this that the Director of, National Service had asked for an Explanation. ' “Well,, if the. Director of National Service takes up the view that whatever the explanation there is going to be a prosecution, then the difficulty had better be met by a better system of checking-up. Most of us would accept this man’s excuse, but apparently it is , not to be accepted,” the Magistrate said. Argus was ordered to pay costs only, and the company was .fined 10s and ordered to pay costs. ; DRUNKENNESS Robert Howard Wilson, a brewery hand, aged 41, faced two charges, one of having been found drunk in Sumner on June 18, and the other of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order! Wilson had once previously been convicted of drunkenness in the last six, months. On each charge Wilson was fined 20s and ordered to pay costs, in default 48 hburs’. ; imprisonment, .

• LEFT GLASS ON PATH Thomas Muir, a fruiterer, was fined 5s for placing glass on the footpath. Sub-Inspector Turne. said-Muir was getting out of his car and dropped a •bottle of beer, -'which broke on the footpath. On the same day he had been caught driving without number ;plates or licence (which was three ■days overdue). ■Mr H. A.- Young, speaking of the [bottle incident, said, that Muir saw a sergeant "looming up” and so he made off, but the sergeant caught him up. Muir was ordered to pay. costs on the other .two .charge*.

LIQUOR AFTER HOURS Annie Smith, licensee of the Prebbleton Hotel, was fined £2 for selling liquor after hours, and James Cunneen, the barman, was fined £6 for supplying it. . ■ . . . Sub-Inspector Turner said that eight people were found on the premises, and the licensee was absent, as she did not live there. , A . .Mr A. J.. Malley said that the licensee had lived off the _ premises ever since she had an accident and a stroke two and a half years ago. For being on the premises after hours, the following were fined 20s and ordered to pay costs:—Frank Archer, Albert Armstrong, Norman Brown, Richard Fletcher, William Holmes, Sydney Loose, and William McCall. A similar charge against John Thomas Gallagher, who gave an excuse, was dismissed. BREACH OF PROHIBITION,

John Matthew Hall was fined 20s. in default two days’ imprisonment, for obtaining liquor while prohibited. CHIMNEY FIRE George Osborne was ordered to pay Court costs for letting a chimney catch fire. TRAFFIC CASES No light on cycle: Roland James Ayers, 10s. Cycling on footpath: Gordon Beattie, convicted and discharged. No driver’s licence; lan McFarlane Duncan, costs only. Failing to keep to left: Norman Albert Humphreys, 10s. Crossing in front of train: Alexander Mclntosh, 20s. Careless driving: Dayid Charles Shaw, £2.