TOOK BAG OF RICE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 218, 10 June 1933, Page 12

TOOK BAG OF RICE

Magistrate Fines Carrier

“JOKE” AGAINST CHINESE As Leo Chung, a Chinese, was conveying a consignment of rice from the Queen's Wharf to his shop recently, a number of bags fell off his motor-lorry. He had to go back with bis assistant, and collect them with a hand-cart One bag was found to be missing, and a report to the police resulted in Alfred Smith, a carrier, appearing before Mr. E. Rage, S.M., yesterday afternoon to answer a charge of the theft of a bag of rice, valued at 10/6. Senior-Sergeant Dempsey conducted the prosecution, and Mr. W. B. Brown appeared for accused. Mr. Brown said accused had taken the bag of rice more as a joke against the Chinaman than anything else. He had expected the owner to return and claim his property, but when be did not do so had made an entry in the carriers’ telephone box at the wharf stating tiiat he had the bag of rice. After hearing the evidence, the magistrate said the accused, if he had been an honest man, would have informed the police or Harbour Board officers that be had the bag of rice, but instead f doing so had taken the bag out to his home at Miramar. He would be convicted and fined £5,. with witnesses’ expenses 36/-. A fortnight was allowed in which to pay the fine.