MAXIMUM PENALTY

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 3

MAXIMUM PENALTY

OIL FUEL FRAUD [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, March 12. A fine of £IOO was imposed on Clarence Lionel M'Donald, a married man, aged 43, described as an importer, when he was convicted by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Morrinsville Court to-day on a charge of making a false statement to the sub-oil fuel controller on October 30. with intent to deceive. M’Donald made a false statement to Alfred George Shirley, the controller, in that he made a written statement in which he asked for a renewal of a special oil fuel license which expired on November 30, and failed to state that such license had been revoked on November 22. On four further breaches of the Oil Fuel Regulations the defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs.

“ It seems to me that the defendant has carried his bluff and bluster right up to the court door,” said the Magistrate. “ He has bluffed someone into giving him 140 gallons a month. I disbelieve him entirely. When inflicting penalties in these matters due regard must be paid not only to the offence committed, but to what takes place at the hearing of the case. “ Hero wo have a man deliberately trying to create the atmosphere that Post Office officials are lying," Mr Freeman said. “ 1 don’t like _it. The maximum penalty of £IOO is never inflicted except in extreme cases, and I think this is one of them."