MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

TO-DAY’S GREYMOUTH CASES. Mr. W. Meldrum, S.M., presided over to-day’s sitting of the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth, and Senior-Sergeant E. Quayle represented the police. Ralph Albert Tyler, 24, was charged that, on October 27, at Greymouth, he did wilfully set fire to bedding in a cottage at the Oriental Hotel, knowing that the cottage was likely to catch fire, thereby attempting to commit the crimo of arson. The charge was laid under Section 330 of the Crimes Act, 1908.

Detective-Sergeant Holmes said that accused was arrested on Saturday. A remand until to-morrow was asked for, when the police would be able to proceed with the case. Mr. T. F. Brosnan, who appeared for accused, said that the latter would plead not guilty. He asked for the suppression of Tyler’s name, meanwhile.

The S.M. refused to order the suppression. A statutory first offender, found on the premises of the Oriental Hotel, after hours on October 11, was convicted and ordered to pay 10/- costs. On a second charge, of falsely alleging himself to be a lodger, he was fined 10/-, with 10/- costs. The licensee, James Lemon Manthorpe, was charged with aiding and abetting the man in the commission of the offence of being on the premises, and (2) aiding and abetting him in falsely alleging that he was a lodger. Mr J.W. Hannan, for defendant, pleaded guilty. Manthorpe was fined £l, with 10s costs, on the first charge, and the other was withdrawn by the police.

George Cressey, who was charged with being unlawfully on the premises, pleaded not guilty, and stated that he had been having his mealij at the hotel for years, and frequently slept there. Asked by the S.M. whether he booked a room on the night of October 11, defendant said he did not think it was necessary. Cressey, a statutory first offender, was ordered to pay 10/- costs. Horace Gage was charged that, at Wallsend, on August 18, he used an unregistered motor-car. Defendant did not appear, but evidence was given by his father, James Pike Gage. 'John Cecil Coote. of Nelson, for whom Mr A. M. Jamieson pleaded guilty, was charged with permitting Gage to use the car. The S.M. held that, on the evidence, there was no doubt that authority was given by Coote to Gage to use the car in his business, pending the completion of the sale of another car to Gage. The cai- was used in the business for three weeks, and was- used for more than demonstration purposes. Fie fined each defendant £l, with 10/costs, and an additional 5/- against Gage, for police expenses.

UNPAID TAXES. On the information of the Inspector of Factories (Mr F. G. Davies), Arthur Blocksage, of the Peerless Bakery, Greymouth, was charged that, on or about June 1, 1933, he committed a breach of Clause 12 (a) of the. Unemploybent Relief Tax Regulations, by faJling to furnish a declaration as to his income othei- than-salary and wages, for the year ended March 31, 1932, as required by Clause 3 of the regulations. Blocksage was also charged that, on or about August 1, 1933, he failed to pay into the Unemployment Fund the emergency unemployment charge, within three days after the deduction of same, as provided in Sub-clause 3 of Clause 13 of the Unemployment Relief Tax Regulations. On behalf of defendant, Mr T. F. Brosnan pleaded guilty to both charges. He stated that Blocksage made a return of income, in the usual way, and did not consider it was necessary to make a declaration, as there was no tax payable. In connection with the other matter, defendant would now have to pay a considerable sum. Mr Davies said the position was that, this year, defendant had paid approximately £122 in wages, but stamps had been put on to the extent •of only £3B. The total shortage, since the tax was brought into force, was computed at £25 13/9, and the Unemployment Board had taken rather a serious view of the case. With regard to the charge of failing to send in a declaration of income, other than salary or wages, defendant had sent in declarations for 1931 and 1933, so that he evidently knew the routine.

The S.M.: AVhat about the £25 13/9 shortage?—l suggest that you make an order for that to be paid. There is also 10/- for witness’s expenses. Mr Brosnan gave an assurance that arrangements would be made for payment.

The S.M. fined Blocksage £2. with 10/- costs, on each charge; also witness’s expenses 10/-.