TELEGRAMS. [press association.] NEWCOMER "PLUCKED."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 3

TELEGRAMS. [press association. ] NEWCOMER "PLUCKED."

OVERCHARGE AT A REGISTRY OFFICE. AUCKLAND, 27th July. A case of the utmost importance to licensed keepers 'of ltgistry offices came before Mr. Kettle, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day. On the information of Inspector Hood, Charles William Buttle, who keeps a licensed registry office in Queen-street, was charged with what the Labour Department regarded as a wrongful act. Inspector Hood, in 6tating the case, said that in response to one of the defendant's advertisements a young man named Horace Armstrong, a baker, who had recently arrived in the Dominion, applied for employment in the country. Dcfenda at* charged him 6s 6d as registration fee, and when Armstrong came back later on he was informed he could have a position at Ohakune by paying 183 6d railway fee. lie worked there for a week, when he had a disagreement with his employer, _ and then came lo Inspector- Hood claiming that h© had been overcharged by the defendant. When the matter was taken up by the department a refund of 5s 6d was immediately made. Mr. Qiunn, for defendant, pointed out that the latter had been at considerable trouble and expense in telegraphing to obtain employment for Armstrong, and he naturally thought ho was entitled to an extra fee. His Worship said that in his opinion the offence was a very serious one, and ho doubted whether it was not a. criminal act for defendant It, extort from a person Who was ignorant of the law and "green" to the customs of tbo country money which defendant, as a licensed proprietor of a registry office, should have known, he had no power to demand. His Worship added : "Unfortunately, Ihc Jaw does not give me power in the first instance to cancel the license, otherwise I should have no hesitation in doing bo. I have no hesitation ia this case in imposing the full penalty of £o, 'with cost* 17s and witnesses' expenses, and the defendant's license will be endorsed. Moreover, I think the facie of this case fhould bo reported to the police. Young people conic from the Old Country and go to a registry office in search oi employment. They don't know the law, or how much they should pay, and they are 'plucked.' "