MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23881, 25 February 1943, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

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

DRUNK IN CHARGE Eric William Pawsey. a farmer, aged 34, pleaded guilty to having been drum; in charge of a motor-car on the Main North road. He was fined £25, his licence was endorsed, and he was deemed unfit to drive a motor-car for 12 months from June 30.

Senior-Sergeant J. Bickerdike said that the accused had been involved in an accident and when apprehended by the police was in a slot telephone box attempting to get In touch with his solicitor. He had been examined by a doctor, who had declared him to be under the influence of liquor. The accused, said Mr Bickerdike, had already taken out a prohibition order. . In imposing the penalty the Magistrate said that considering the comparatively few motor-cars on the road these days there appeared to be too many of these cases, and it was a question as to whether offenders should not be more severely dealt with.

CHARGE DISMISSED Gan She Shun, who was represented by Mr E. T. Layburn, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having attempted to defraud the Government by bringing ashore from an overseas vessel an uncustomed article. An employee of the Customs Department said that the accused had come ashore carrying two crates, one of whicn contained a case of cutlery. When questioned. he said that Campbell, a cook on the vessel, had asked him to take the parcel ashore and keep it until he called for it. The accused did work on a number of vessels and really occupied a position of trust. A , Mr Layburn said that the facts related by the accused to the Customs official were as he understood them. The accused had carried the parcel ashore to oblige a man whom he knew: he had not attempted to conceal the parcel, and in doing what he thought a good turn he had suffered for his Innocence. The accused, giving evidence, said that he had been born in Canton and was not a naturalised New Zealander. When he brought the case ashore he had no idea what was in it and did not think Campbell, whom he knew well, would "put one over him.” “He was sailing very close to the wind, but as he did not try to bluff the Customs searcher I will give him the benefit of the doubt,' said the Magistrate in dismissing the charge. WANDERING STOCK Muriel Wallace was sued by the Heathcote County Council for allowing stocic to wander. Mr A. C. IJerry, representing the council, said that this was not first offence committed by the defendant, who did not appear. A fine of £5 was imposed.