DOMINION NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1939, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FALSE PRETENCES. WELLINGTON, September 19. Edgar Basil Oliver, 24, who had pleaded guilty to obtaining at. Pet.one a cheque for £147 from Minnie Catherine Henry, by falsely representing that, a motor-car. on which he owed £144/16/-, was his property ami was •unencumbered, was admitted to probation by Mr. Justice Blair, for 18 months, and was ordered to pay the costs of i lie prosecutidu. S.M.’s DECISION UPHELD WELLINGTON, September 19. A decision of Mr. Goulding, S.M., that the Shops and Offices #Amendment. Act, 1936 with the wages for shop assistants given therein, did not abrogate a deed of apprenticeship, entered into by a chemist, was upheld, in the Supreme Court, in a reserved judgment of Mr. Justice Reed. His Honor held that the general scheme of legislation was prospective, and that, there was no indication that it. was to have a retrospective effect. There, was an entire absence of plain words, which indicated that it was the intention of the Legislature to take away rights, which already existed before the Statute was passed. MOTOR TRADERS’ CONFERENCE CHRISTCHURCH, September 19. “Don't, get. panicky.” This was the advice given by the President (Mr. H. G. Miller) to members of the New Zealand Motor Trailers’ Federation, who met in conference in Christchurch to-day. Mr. Miller said that, rather than give way to panic, traders should wait and see. He believed, and that was his firm's belief, that conditions would be much better a month from now. It was difficult to make a direct approach to the Government, but this would be done if the occasion warranted. Mr. Miller urged members to keep on an even keel, and stressed the importance of the conference, which, he said,, had serious problems to discuss.

INTOXICATED DRIVERS AUCKLAND, September 19. _ Two motorists, charged with intoxication while in charge of motor-cars, were sent to gaol by Mr. Levien, S.M., to-day. Selwyn Wilson Notton, 32, vulcanise?, received ten days’ hard labour, and was disqualified from having a license for two years. The police said that the car collided with a safetyzone in Wellesley Street, last night. Joseph Roy Anderson, 42, motordriver, received seven days’ hard labour, and was disqualified for 18 months. The police said that the car was travelling at 40 miles per hour on the New North Road at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Defendant stopped in response to a traffic officer’s signal, and was found to be drunk.

BOY AWARDED DAMAGES. -WELLINGTON, September 18

The Court of Appeal to-day dismissed an appeal against the refusal by Mr. Justice Ostler to enter judgment for the defendants on a claiffi brought against the Otaki Borough Council and Walter Cole. On May 3 last a Palmerston North jury awarded Joseph Warrington Stevens, an infant, of Otaki, £370 14/- damages for injuries received when he was knocked off his bicycle by a motor-truck belonging to the Otaki Borough Council, and driven by Walter Cole, in Otaki, on September 21, 1938. After the jury’s verdict the trial judge, Mr. Justice Ostler, was asked to enter judgment for the defendants or grant a new trial on the ground that the jury’s verdict was against the weight of evidence. Costs were allowed to-day against the council and Cole.

DESERTER REMANDED. DUNEDIN, September 18

Israel Bruin,•> alias Brinn, who, though born in Poland 41 years ago, was stated to have forfeited his nationality by deserting "from the Polish army after the last war, was charged, in the Police Court, with deserting from the ship Loch Don, at Auckland, on April 18. He was remanded. Counsel said defendant had fought in the Polish army against the Bolshevists. He then deserted and had gone to Antwerp, where he had a wife and children. He joined there - the Loch Don, and was so impressed with New Zealand that he deserted, obtaining work here as a painter. He was now in partnership with a. fellowworkman and was doing well. His position was that he really had no nationality. He was of Polish extraction, and the community here thought well of him.

BANKRUPT IMPRISONED AUCKLAND, September 18. “When this man was adjudged bankrupt his assets, apart from £3O worth of furniture, were nil,” said Mr. G. Meredith, appearing for the Crown, when John Horace Powell, cabinetmaker. of Howick, was charged in the Magistrates Court with having failed to keep proper books, for three years prior to his bankruptcy in February, 1938, and further, that he brought about his bankruptcy by gambling, in the month prior to'the bankruptcy. Mr. Meredith said that the proved creditors represented a total of £568. In January. 1938, Powell had £135 in cash. For Powell. Mr. Bryce [lari said that ho admitted gambling, hoping to win enough to pay his creditors. Air. Orr-Walker, S.M., said that he regarded the second charge more seriously than (he first, knowing the attitude of the Supreme Court in such matters. On the charge of gambling Powell was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and. on the first charge, he was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months.