PURCHASE OF PETROL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 2

PURCHASE OF PETROL

RIGHT TO TRANSFER COUPON MAGISTRATE’S DECISION iP.A.) DUNEDIN. May 11. Reserved decision was given in the Magistrate’s Court this morning by Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M., in the case where Joseph Perkins was charged with obtaining two gallons of petrol by tendering a petrol coupon to which, it was alleged, he was not entitled, as he did not own a motor-car. The main contentions of the prosecution were; d) that a coupon issued under the Oil Fuel Emergency Regulations is not transferable: (2) such a coupon, if transferable, cannot be purchased; CD if transferable, it can bo obtained only by a licensed owner of a motor vehicle. “Assuming that the coupon may be transferred by way of gift.” the Magistrate said. "I can sec no objection to its being purchased. Under the regulations a person may not make a gi't of nr sell motor spirit, and the somewhat anomalous position arises that a person to whom a coupon is issued cannot, under the regulations, obtain spirit and then give or sell it to another person; but he can give or sol! the' coupon which it gives the right to obtain the motor spirit. “It appears to me to follow logically.” added the Magistrate, ‘‘that if a person can, hy gift or purchase, become the holder of a coupon, it is immaterial whether or not ho is the holder of a licence for a car.” The Magistrate intimated that in the case under review this, however, did not, in his opinion, dispose of the matter. Dismissing the information without prejudice to its being again laid under section 73 of the Justices of ’..ic Peace Act, 1927. he said the police might see fit to charge the defendant with pin'chnsing motor spirit, such purchase not being in accordance with the nil fuel regulations.