WARNING TO SHOPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 56, 7 March 1942, Page 8

WARNING TO SHOPS

SALE OF UNIFORMS

YOUNG MAN'S MASQUERADE

! (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 6. David Camwell Robinson pleaded guilty before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to two charges of wearing the military uniform of a second lieutenant without lawful authority. j Sub-Inspector McNamara said that Robinson, who was nearly 18 years of , age, went to John Court, Limited, on December 10 and made inquiries about I a drill uniform. He was fitted with I a tunic and cap and next day took deI livery.. Two stars he obtained from another store and a Sam Browne belt from a third. Attired in a second lieutenant's uniform, he masqueraded as an officer of the forces. Mr. Allan Moody, for the defendant, said that • a lot of Robinson's friends were in the Army and he thought it time he did something, but foolishly got into a uniform he was not entitled to wear. Robinson had enlisted in the Air Force and would •' shortly be called up. Robinson was remanded in custody till Tuesday for sentence. Arising out of the case, three city firms were charged on summons—Surplus Stores, Ltd., with supplying to a person without authority a Sam Browne belt, Horace Bull, Ltd., with supplying two officer's badges of rank, and John Court, Ltd., with supplying a tunic and cap. The -harges were laid under the Uniform and Badges Emergency Regulations. Surplus Stores and John Courts were each,fined £1 and Horace Bull, Ltd., £4. Mr. Luxford said he hoped the cases would act as a warning to the trade. Shopkeepers must exercise control and prevent the sale of any part of a military uniform to an unauthorised person. If there were any further cases, a heavier penalty would be imposed: :