FINE REDUCED ON APPEAL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 17

FINE REDUCED ON APPEAL

Chemist’s Breach Of Drugs Act • (New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 12. Fines imposed by Mr Stewart Hardy, S.M., on John Whalley Harris, a Ngatea chemist, for 13 breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Regulations, 1951, were reduced by Mr Justice Gresson in a reserved judgment in the Supreme Court at Auckland, yesterday. His Honour said that the Magistrate had believed that breaches of the regulations provided for a minimum fine of £25, but said the minimum applied only to the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1927. The Magistrate had imposed fines of £4O on each charge. His Honour said the Magistrate was “quite entitled to reject the appellant’s explanation of his defaults and in view of his past record and the necessity for literal compliance with the regulations the penalties requite to be substantial. Indeed any further serious breach dependent upon its circumstances could imperil the appellant’s licence.”

His Honour held the penalties should be reduced to £2O in each case in respect to nine breaches of the regulations in respect of another breach the “fine is reduced to £l5 and in respect to three less serious offences involving failure to “deface” prescriptions the fines are reduced to £5 m each case.

. T!?-.. totai flnea as varied come there court c °sts 10s and solicitor's fee of £4O 19s. “in imposing * penalty of thia sort the Court h emphasising the necessity for absolute compliance with the regula-