POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 11

POLICE COURT

1 ; -FRIDAY, .-APRIL 9. f:; . (Before Mi - H. W. Bundle, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. “ I’ve got nothing to say; I was drunk all night,” said a first offender for drunkenness.—A fine of 10s was imposed, default being fixed at 24 hours. William Downie, a statutory first offender, was fined 20s, in default 24 hours. . FALSE DECLARATIONS ADMITTED, False statements under the Employment Act were admitted by three men, fines being imposed in each case. “This case is looked upon by the Labour Department as one of fraud, the defendant having been previously warned for a similar breach,” said Chief-detective Young of Robert Johnston, who pleaded guilty to making a false declaration. ' The Chief Detective said that Johnston was on sustenance, and on January 25 he made the usual declaration, stating that to January 23 his earnings were nil. He was paid full sustenance amounting ot 355, less 4s, which offset a previous amount obtained by making a false declaration. The department found that Johnston was earning £2 17s sd. The amount received in excess of sustenance was £1 12s sd. When defendant had made the false declaration on the first occasion he had been warned and the money collected. Johnston subsequently stated to the police that he thought lie was entitled to earn £3, and now he said his lapse was due to carelessness. Johnston was fined 40s and costs. John Reid (Mr O. G. Stevens) pleaded guilty to making five false declarations. The Chief Detective said that defendant was on relief work. Defendant haa made eight false declarations, but was being charged in respect to only five offences. He failed to disclose that his wife was working. She had been in regular employment since December. “ The defendant received relief amounting o.t £9B 17s in. excess of what he would have got if he had made a truthful statement,” said Mr Young. Counsel said that there were some anomalies in connection with this case, and asked the magistrate to take that fact into consideration. He added that Reid was an Imperial soldier, and had been a member of the Cameron Highlanders for 20 years. Ho had been offered work for three hours a week. Commenting that the amount involved was substantial, the Magistrate fined Johnston £2O and costs on each of the four charges, to be paid at the rate of 5s per week. He was convicted only on the fifth charge. Moses Reid (Mr O. G. Stevens) pleaded guilty to making a false declaration. Mr Young said that defendant was on sustenance, and on December 2 he made a declaration to the effect that his _ daughter was living with and being maintained by him, whereas she was living elsewhere. The defendant had received £1 16s in excess. “ This is regarded by the department as a deliberate breach,” said Mr Young. “ This man is a foreigner and unable to read or write,” said Mr Stevens, who added that the defendant was under the impression that his daughter, who had gone on holiday, was returning to stay with him. Ho was a married man with four children. Reid was fined £1 16s and costs (10s) to be paid at the rate of 3s a week. SUNDAY TRADING. “ Though there have been a number of charges against shopkeepers for Sunday trading in the past 12 months there has been no easing up of the position.” said Senior-sergeant Packer when Margaret Duncan was charged with Sunday trading. The defendant, admitted flic breach, and was fined 40s and costs.

ELECTRICAL ACT BREACH. David Isbister pleaded guilty _to committing a breach of the Electrical Wiring Act, in, that, being an unregistered electrical wireman or holder of a provisional license, he installed electrical conductors and accessories.—He was fined £2 and costs. A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. “ This practice is fairly common in Dunedin, some cyclists managing to avoid people and others striking them,” commented Senior-sergeant Packer in respect of a charge against Clifford Chapman of negligently riding a bicycle. The Senior Sergeant added that the defendant had ridden his machine at a fast pace down Rattray street and knocked down a woman. This case was brought as a warning. The defendant was fined 10s and ‘ MOTORISTS CHARGED. Bernard Magee, who failed to drive his car on the left of the roadway, the charge being a sequel to an accident in which he was involved with a motor cycle near the Carisbrook overbridge, was fined 40s and costs. Alfred Allan Barton was fined 30s and costs for driving, a motor car without due care and attention. William Alexander Porteous was fined 5s and costs for driving an unlighted motor car. MILKMEN FINED. George Alfred Brookes (Mr W. H. Carson) pleaded guilty to employing a boy before 7 a.m., failing to pay the minimum wage prescribed by law, and failing to keep a wage and time book. An inspector of the Labour Department, which prosecuted,- said that the breaches all related to the same employee, who was 12 years of age. This was a bad case, the defendant appearing to have flouted the regulations. He had been before the court for similar breaches last year. Mr Carson said that, unfortunately, he could not dispute the facts related by the prosecution, but he could give an undertaking that the offences would not he repeated. Defendant was fined £5 and costs on the first charge, and was convicted only on the other two charges. Eric James, a milk vendor, who was represented by Mr W, H. Carson, was fined 10s and costs for employing a person more than 44 hours a week. This case was brought as a warning, it was stated.