MANPOWER DIRECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1945, Page 2

MANPOWER DIRECTION

JOHN HOGAN FINED WELLINGTON, July 25. Reserved judgment was given by Mr Goulding. S.M., at the Petpne Court, to-day. in the case against John Hogan, in failing Io comply with the man-power direction. He was fined £25. Referring io the new regulations, which provide' for a penalty of £6O or three months’ imprisonment, or both, for failure to comply, and similar penalties for continuing the offence in respect of one direction, the Magistrate said that the power placed in the hands of those in authority under the man-power regulations was a very formidable weapon. Since Hogan was re-directed to the woollen mills by a fresh direction on March 12, tinder the principal regulation, the new regulations came into force on April 18, prior to Hogan’s appeal against the new direction being dealt with. These clarified the doubt as to whether a continuing offence was committed as long as the person failed to comply with the di- ■ ection. It was now made clear that to do so rendered a person liable to lUrmer prosecution. Hogan had consistently failed to comply , with the direction. He had exercised very fully, and with some success his rights within the law against his directions, and against the prosecution. That should not be held against him. On accused’s side there was a sense of persecution, and on the Department's a sense of frustration of its direction and the regulations. Guarding against anything that would permit either view to prevail, and treating this is an initial prosecution under ‘ the now regulations , he thought that an adequate penalty was a fine of £25.