DOMINION ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1942, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS

GAMBLING AT CAMP* PALMERSTON N. June 16. Following a recent police raid on the Public Works camp at Linton, 16 men appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on various charges, DetectiveSergeant Meiklejohn prosecuting. William Edward Alloway pleaded guilty to being a bookmaker and using a hut as a common gaminghouse. According to the police evidence, high stakes were involved, some men losing all their wages in one night. Alloway was fined £25 on the first and £lO on the second charge. Albert Strong, who ran a smaller school, was fined £lO. For being on the premises 12 men were fined £2 each. ' Money seized in the raid reverts to the Consolidated Fund.

WASTE SALVAGE AUCKLAND, June 18. “That this chamber deplores the lack of support by the Government to the waste reclamation movement, and impresses on the Government the need for more effective organisation, backed by the Government, for the conservation of waste material capable of reutilisation in New Zealand,” was a resolution carried by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day after a discussion in which the Government was criticised for its attitude toward the voluntary work of the Reclamation of Waste Committee. Mr. N. B. Spencer said that a great deal of waste material had become available, particularly waste paper, but they had tried in vain to obtain a lorry from the Government for regular collection. He had interviewed the head of the Industries and Commerce Department, but it seemed to be nobody’s job. Speakers agreed that the work should be put on a proper business basis.

DESERTION ALLEGED PALMERSTON N., June 18.

Signalman Donald Edward Brian Fea, aged 19, appeared before a court-martial to-day on nine charges including two of desertion in that he was absent wtihout leave till he was apprehended in Wellington, to which he pleaded not guilty. He admitted charges of being absent without leave on two other occasions till he was returned to camp by military police from Wellington, but he denied losing part of his equipment and another charge of damaging handcuffs for the purpose of removing them and escaping. He admitted breaking away from a guard and escaping, and also on another occasion escaping from a detention cell. Fea in evidence explained that he escaped on the first occasion to return home to get married, which he did. On the second occasion he wanted to see his wife again and also his mother, who was indisposed. He had every intention of returning to camp. On the ninth charge, of being improperly in possession of 37 rounds of ammunition, the Court found him not guilty. The findings on the other charges to which he pleaded not guilty will be submitted by the Court to the officer convening the trial.