GAOL FOR FARMER

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 219, 12 June 1933, Page 10

GAOL FOR FARMER

Stole Power by Tampering

With Wires IGNORANCE PLEA FAILS Dominion Special Service. Auckland, June 10. lu the Te Aroha .Magistrate’s Court, before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., Eric John Littlehales, a young Putaruru farmer, pleaded not guilty to two charges involving fraudulent abstraction of electricity -from the Thames Valiev Power Board’s mains. Mr. G. Gilchrist, for the board, said the board had in the past experienced great trouble through the illegal wiring of meters so that power would not be measured. It was estimated that about £3OOO was lost to the board in revenue every year by this means. To counter it to some extent the board bad installed meters costing £6OOO. In spite of this the tapping of the mains continued, and in order to put an end to the practice the board asked that offenders be punished with severity. Engineer Visits Farm. George Percival Lindsay, assistant engineer and registered inspector to the board, said that on the evening of April 28 he visited defendant’s farm and noticed a gleam of light under a dwelling where there was supposed to be no electric light connection. Upon investigating he found a light going inside the house. Defendant, upon being informed who witness was and the nature of bis visit,, had remarked it was a “fair catch.” Witness said he then made au inspection and found that a joint box in the conduit leading to the switchboard in tlie cowshed had been opened and a connection made with the wires inside. The box was almost obscured by the waterheater so that the casual observer would not notice it. A heavy rubber cable was attached to tlie joint box and carried in underground piping for a distance of 40 or 50 feet to the house, where it in turn was connected to a length of cotton-covered flex. This was carried up the weatherboards and attached to the rafters by ordinary binder twine, which also suspended the electric lamp. Attachment for Grill. The light could not be turned off without the removal of the globe. There was also an attachment for an electric grill, which the defendant claimed had not been used for some time. When witness bad informed defendant of the seriousness of his action defendant had pleaded ignorance of tlie fact that the practice was illegal, stating that he was under the impression he was paying for the power. Edwin Harold Wyatt, meter reader, employed by the board, said that he had detected the illegal wiring in the first instance. His suspicions had been aroused by tlie sight of a grill and other electrical apparatus ou the property. Defendant, who conducted his own case, said he was under the Impression that he was paying for all the power used on the farm and had not sought to do anything underhand. He did not think the connection mentioned was hidden in any way, as a person would notice it when lie entered tlie shed. He thought all the power used was being registered by the meter. Plea for Leniency. If he had committed a breach, said defendant, he asked that he be dealt with leniently as he was a married man witli four children, fighting bard to keep off relief. To Mr. Gilchrist defendant stated that he had never noticed that a meter was registering when power was being used aud thought the board was at fault in not issuing pamphlets instructing and warning farmers against, tampering with electrical wires. He had gained a' slight knowledge of wiring when working at Arapuni. The magistrate said he quite failed to see how defendant would be ignorant of the regulations if he was employed at Arapuni and handled electric wiring. It appeared to be a careful and deliberate theft perpetrated in a very clever manner. On the charge of tampering With the wires defendant, was fined £5 and costs. On the charge of tlieft lie was sentenced to seven days’ hard labour.

Defendant’s request that he be allowed to go and make arrangements for the care of his stock was refused, the magistrate remarking that he must go to prison like anyone else.