BREACH OF RATIONING REGULATIONS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25797, 7 May 1949, Page 4

BREACH OF RATIONING REGULATIONS

OWNER OF DAIRY FINED (New Zealand Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 0. Failure to account to the rationing controller for 4711 b of butter led to Lennox Kinross Taylor being charged with a breach of the Rationing Emergency Regulations before Mr J. H. .Luxfora, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. Sub-Inspector Harrison said defendant, who did not appear, was the proprietor of a dairy, and when a rationing inspector checked defendant’s stocks on March 2, he found defendant was 4711 b short of butter. In explanation, defendant had told the- inspector that when the registration period ended and the coupon system started in October, 1948, he found he was more than 4001 b short. He then sent in false returns to try and cover up his errors and to give himself a chance to overtake arrears. Counsel submitted that the arrears were reasonable and were not the result of any black-marketing. “I regard all offences under the rationing regulations seriously,” said the Magistrate. "I cannot accept the statement that this was an innocent mistake. Defendant tried to conceal his errors and in doing so only exposed himself to the expert eyas of rationing, officers.” Defendant was fined £2O and ordered to pay costs.