WOMEN CONVICTED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 11

WOMEN CONVICTED

PICKING OF OYSTERS (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Three womou who were caught by iuspectora of the Fisheries .Department taking oysters during a close season at Ownanuke Bay, Waiheke, appeared on summons before Mr. ]?. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court. They were Vivienne Anderson, Mrs.' Jane M'Kinnon, and Mis. l<'anny Powley. Mrs. Powley pleaded guilty, but the other two denied the charges. ■ Mr. V. N. "Hubble,, who prosecuted, called evidence to show'that four women were seen early one morning on the rocks. The inspectors arrived in a launch, and when their arrival had been observed, the women moved away quickly, two going , oue way and two another. On a search being made, 36 dozen oysters which had been taken from the shell were found in a billy. An inspection of the rocks showed that a large number of oysters had been broken open. , Mr. M.'Liver, who appeared for the three women charged, said that Mrs. Powley would,admit frankly that she picked oysters with, the assistance of another woman who had not been charged; 'and who was in Australia. She would say that Mrs. M'Kinnon' and Miss Anderson never ■touched an oyster. Miss Anderson, in evidence, said that neither she nor Mrs. M'Kinnon picked an oyster. Witness picked half a dozen mussels. Similar evidence was given by Mrs. M'Kinnon and Mrs. Powley. Mrs. Powley added that she took a benzine tin and billy with her to get mussels. "Well, I don't believe you were the only one that picked' oysters. The three of yon will each be fined •£5 and costs £1 11s, said the Magistrate. "It's goiiiß over the odds taking 36 dozen oysters."