FINE OF £75

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 91, 18 April 1945, Page 6

FINE OF £75

PURCHASE OF OIL FUEL

A fine of £75 was imposed on Ernest Garrett, picture-theatre manager, by Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Lower Hutt Magistrate's Court this morning for a breach of the s oil fuel regulations. Garrett was charged that between December, 1943, and February, 1945, at Lower Hutt he purchased 405 gallons of oil fuel otherwise than pursuant to his licence and coupons. Senior-Detective W. McLennan said the mileage of the defendant's car had bene checked and it was found that the defendant must have been tising petrol at the rate of 29 gallons a month and was entitled to only the petrol his coupons, would buy. He.had admitted getting petrol from friends who had licences, but had refused to disclose who they were. Mr. H, Jowett, who appeared and pleaded guilty for Garrett, assured the Court there was nothing sinister in the case. The defendant. required the use of the car in his business, and when he had been refused a licence had. obtained, the petrol from his friends. He had not bought on the black market.

In imposing sentence, Mr. Goulding said that this was the case of a man whose licence was reduced to nothing and in spite of that he had obtained petrol from friends. "It is a pity those friends are not before the Court" said the Magistrate, "as I think they are as blameworthy as the defendant I take a serious view of this case, and I had considered imposing imprisonment, but on further consideration I think a fine will,meet the position"