£100 FINE IMPOSED

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 137, 6 March 1931, Page 11

£100 FINE IMPOSED

Baker Uses Stolen Butter “SORDID COMPETITION” Dominion Special Service. Masterton, March 5. “As far as you, Wedderspoon, are concerned, you are a man in a business of some extent —at least substantial—and there is not the slightest doubt that this cheap butter was used in extending this business,” commented his Honour Mr. Justice Blair, when Andrew Wedderspoon, a master baker, of Masterton, and one of two men concerned in the theft of 14 cases of butter from the Mauriceville Dairy Factory, appeared before him in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence. Wedderspoon appeared on a charge of theft and of receiving the butter knowing it to be dishonestly obtained.

“It was a sordid way to compete with your fellow-men in the same class of business, and a dishonest way,” added his Honour. Wedderspoon was fined £lOO and ordered to pay the costs of his prosecution. Default was fixed at six months’ imprisonment. In dealing with Arthur Henry Palmer, who was butter-maker at the factory, his Honour said that it was shown that Palmer was a reputable citizen, and in all respects, except this first lapse, he had led a most reputable life. He thought that the case had been a lesson to’ him, so although the probation officer did not recommend it; he intended taking the unusual course of granting him probation. He admitted him to probation for three years with a special condition that he pay the costs of the prosecution.