FAILURE TO DELIVER TRUCKS TO ARMY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23415, 23 August 1941, Page 11

FAILURE TO DELIVER TRUCKS TO ARMY

FARMERS FINED AT ASHBURTON

Charged with failing to deliver impressed motor-trucks to the Army authorities, William Thomas Lowe and Henry Thomas Stephens, farmers, of Hinds, pleaded guilty, and each was fined £5 by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., at the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Senior-Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that the trucks of both defendants were impressed on April 4, and appeals by them against the impressment were dismissed. They were told to comply with the impressment order, but replied that they had appealed to the Prime Minister. Defendants were later again told that thfe trucks must be delivered and they failed to do so. “My truck is essential for my farm,” said Lowe. He added that he had-4000 sheep as well as 500 acres in wheat. He was short of men and had one son serving overseas. His truck was used every day in the year. If it was taken his lime-sower would be useless. He said that he had seen the Hon. R. Semple, who told him that he was going to alter the mode of assessment altogether. Defendant was prepared to let the Army have his truck for war purposes any time it was required. Apparently there was no further right of appeal, the Magistrate said. “What are you going to do now—will you hand it over?”, he asked. Defendant; Not unless they take it. Stephens stated that he sowed 100 acres of lime each year and if his truck was taken the sower would be of no value as it could not be fitted to any other implement. His farm was entirely mechanised. He knew of farmers whose appeals had been dismissed, but since then they had been notified that they could retain, their trucks.

The Magistrate said that he had no power to hear any further appeal. He had to deal with the offence* which jhad. hear