MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25767, 31 March 1949, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

WEDNESDAY (Before Mr F. F. Reid, S.M.) TERM OF IMPRISONMENT Alfred William Donaldson, aged 56, a labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge that on March 29 at Springston, he was deemed to be idle and disorderly, in that he had insufficient lawful visible means of support. Sub-Inspector G. H. L. Holt said that Donaldson had been hanging round the district for three or four weeks and calling at houses for food. He had been found sleeping in an empty house on Tuesday night. “He has quite a long list. He’s like the lilies of the field; he toils not, neither does he spin—except when he’s in gaol,” he added. Donaldson was sentenced to two. months’ imprisonment with hard labour. NO PERMIT FOR CEMENT The Building Controller (Mr A. W. Brown) proceeded against W. G. Garratt on a charge of using cement without a permit. Garratt, who pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined £3. BREACH OF OIL FUEL LICENCE he T 1 ' 3118 ? 01 '* Department, for whom Mr A. W. Brown appeared, proceeded against Jeff Donald Charles Jefferies, a farmer and jeweller, on a charge of committing a breach of the conditions of his oil fuel licence. Jefferies, who was represented by Mr K. J. McMenamin, pleaded guilty. Mr Brown said that the defendant was a jeweller in Christchurch and he also ran a farm, of about 160 acres, at Springston. He was granted a licence for 132 gallons of oil fuel a month for his motorcar for farm purposes and a licence for 88 gallons a month for a tractor. During the period covered by the information, May, June, and July. 1948, he had no tractor at all, and the only time one was used was a few days in March when the defendant borrowed one from a neighbour. The defendant now said he used his car as a tractor on the farm and the 88 gallons of oil fuel granted for the tractor was used in that way. Mr McMenamin said that the defendant, in his application for a licence, stated he had no tractor of his own but would havq to hire one. A tractor was borrowed and used until it broke down. He then put chains on his car and used it for drawing implements and doing other tractor work. All the petrol- the defendant received for the tractor was used for farm purposes. After the Transport Department completed its inquiries the defendant's allowance of petrol was increased. “He must plead guilty because the licence was issued on condition that the petrol be used in a tractor, and it was not used in a tractor, though it was j fo’’ legitimate farm purposes.” added counsel. Jefferies gave evidence on the lines uf b,S j c !? unse l’s statement. He was convicted and fined £5. OFFENSIVE PREMISES rrNtXF 11 Hubert Newton (Mr A. B. Hobbs) pleaded guilty to a charge that he allowed a nuisance to arise on ins premises at 45 Tilford street, Woolston, in that they were in such a state as Hea?th C ° ntrary ‘° ‘ he Public Mr W. R. Lascelles, for the Christchurch City, Council, said the place had been the subject of complaints and had hy inspectors. Finally the Medical Officer of Health had inspected the premises and it had been decided to take action. Mr Hobbs said that the defendant was 77 and lived alone, except that part of the house was sub-let. It had been suggested to the defendant that he sell the property. The defendant would do what was required to clean the place. Newton was convicted and fined £5. An application by Mr Lascelles for an order that Newton abate the nuisance was adjourned sine die, with leave to bring it on at seven days’ notice. BUSINESS LICENCE NOT PAID ’ T Crosbie, a company director (Mr * Moloney), pleaded guilty to a charge that, being a director of the Commonwealth and General Distributing ComP^ n -Yil Ltd -’ he acte d in the management or the company when it had not paid its annual licence fee. Mr A. W. Brown, for the Assistant Commissioner of Stamp Duties, said that the licence fee of £1 had been paid on Tuesday. The company had ceased to carrv on business hilt tho I

r t- 7 uui me aeienaant | had not notified the Assistant-Commis-sioner. Crosbie was convicted and fined £2 MILK VENDOR FINED James McArthur, a milk vendor (Mr T. K. Papprill). pleaded guilty to a charge of selling milk, on December 16. 1948, which was not up to standard Mr A. W. Brown, for the Health Department. said the case differed from the usual ones. The bulk of the defendant’s milk supply was from his own herd of cows and samples tested showed that this milk was remarkably good. Samples from the supply he obtained from a dairv company were not up to standard. The milk, supplied to the company by various producers, was found to be up to standard, so it was clear the deterioration occurred after this milk was delivered to McArthur. It was decided, therefore, to prosecute the defendant in spite of his good record. McArthur was convicted and fined £2. REMANDED Maiko Kaputone Pahi, aged 26, a labourer, was remanded to April 11 on a charge that, between August 29 and September 8, 1947, having received sums totalling £2OO from Ivan Carl Jansen Humphreys, on terms requiring him to account for or pay the money to Felix Chavellier Preston, he fraudulently omitted to do so and thereby committed theft. Pahi was allowed bail in his own recognisance of £lOO and one surety of £lOO, conditional on his reporting daily to the police.