MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23811, 3 December 1942, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

WEDNESDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) PRICE OF TURNIPS

George Ching, a greengrocer, was charged with having sold lib of white turnips to an inspector at 3d per lb, when the maximum price fixed by a price order was IJd per lb. Mr A. W. Brown, who prosecuted on behalf of the Commerce and Industries Department, said defendant had exceeded the maximum price by 100 per cent. He alluded to the fact that the public had commented upon the high rates prevailing in Christchurch for vegetables, and said it was the first prosecution of its kind. The department had done everything possible to co-operate through the Prices Investigation Tribunal with sellers of vegetables, but in some cases the latter had deliberately broken the price orders. Other prosecutions, he indicated, were pending. The defendant said that the turnips had been sold by a boy in his employ. He (Ching) had paid 2s 4d for a dozen bundles of these turnips at auction, and he had never seen a copy of the price order.

Mr J. K. Archer, for defendant, said there had been no intention to flout the law. He asked that this prosecution, as it was the first of its kind, should be treated as a warning, and that only a nominal penalty be imposed. Ching was convicted and ordered to pay costs. The Magistrate said he would not Impose a stringent penalty on this occasion because of the unusual position that existed. The price order had been published in Wellington on August 14, he said, and prosecutions had been instigated in Christchurch on August 26, before copies of the order had been received here. UNRULY SOLDIER James Mervyn Potts, 21, single, soldier and clerk, was charged with having behaved in a disorderly manner In a public place in Christchurch on December 1. Police evidence was to the effect that Potts had gone to the Scottish Dance Hall that night and had caused trouble. When the police called to put him out of the hall Potts had acted violently. Potts was fined 10s and costs. NO INCOME TAX RETURNS

The following persons were convicted and fined for not having furnished income tax returns: —Charles James Goldstone, £4 and costs: John Douglas Godfrey, £3 and costs; WHUam Angus,: Bernard Francis Derby, Joseph Norman Edyvean, George Edward Geayley, Arthur Nelson Gerrand, William Charles Daniel Glasgow, Mina Goodman, Harold Onslow Hays, John Foulks Landreth, James Louie Mechaelis, and Francis George Turnpenny, £2 and costs. Mr A. W. Brown, who prosecuted, «id that taxpayers must realise that taxes had to be paid, and as the department was now particularly busy, it was essential that they should honour their responsibilities without undue delay. MAINTENANCE CASE Reginald John Myer Giles appeared on warrant for arrears of maintenance totalling £22 17s in respect of his two children. Giles was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour, the warrant to be suspended provided that he paid 5s weekly in addition to the payment of the current maintenance. TRAFFIC OFFENCE William Turner, of Mount Hutt, who pleaded guilty to operating a motorcycle, and possessing no warrant of fitness or a driver’s licence, and also to not displaying a light, was fined £1 and costs.