CARELESS FARMER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12912, 14 July 1936, Page 2

CARELESS FARMER.

OMITTED TO SUPPLY SHEEP RETURNS. FINED £2 AND COSTS. Stating that the defendant had put the defendant to a great deal of inconvenience, Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M.. m the Magistrate’s Court yesterday fined Thomas Fraser £2 and costs Pis for failing to supply sheep returns within the time presented by the Act. Inspector F. R. Bould, of the Department of Agriculture, who prosecuted, said that a form was posted to defendant on April 23, but by Mas, If it had not been returned, and another notice was sent to defendant. No 1 return having been received by June another form was sent and that was not returned until June 20. The defendant was one of the worst offenders in the district, and last year a personal visit had to he paid to him. The clerk had said that for ten or twelve years the defendant’s returns was always the last one into the office. Witness had placed those facts before the head office in Wellington.

Air. J. S. Wauchop, who appeared for defendant, said lie had no moans, of checking up on the statement made by tho inspector. Counsel had acted riy defendant for about twenty years, and had never yet had a summons of this nature. No doubt the omission was duo to an oversight. The return was sent in before the summons was issued. The Magistrate, with the commonc made above, fined defendant £2 and costs 12s.