COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 10

COURT NEWS

RATING VALUER OVERDOES IT. DUNEDIN, December 12. A judgment important to ratepayers on city property was given by Mr Justice Kennedy, in the case in which James William Young, hotelkeeper, sought an order as to what principle should be applied by the city valuer, in determining rateable value under the Rating Act, 1925. Plaintiff had stated that he believed the valuer, in determining the rent at which property would be let, had, before deducting the 20 per cent, provided under the Rating Act, added thereto rates which plaintiff was liable to pay to the defendant Corporation, and he objected to the valuation. The Judge in a lengthy judgment, held that there was no warrant in the statute, for the valuer to take rent which would be paid by a hypothetical tenant, and add thereto the rates payable by the tenant as occupier, then returning such increased sum as the annual value of the premises.

POSTAL OFFICIALS SENTENED. AUCKLAND, December 12. “He had been in Te Awamutu for 20 years, well respected, and had a wonderful reputation for efficiency,” said Mr Preston appealing for probation for Stephen Granville Riddell, 40, postal official, Te Awamutu, who •came for sentence before Mr Justice Fair, at the Supreme Court, for

theft, as servant of the Government, of monies approximating £5OO. Counsel said that Riddell had worked his way up from messenger to supervisor in the Te ’Awamutu office. His domestic life Had been unhappy, and from a nett *of £5 Ils weekly, he had to meet £2 15s a week in maintenance. He was not addicted to gambling. ff His Honour: No, but it is perfectly clear that on his salary he\could not afford to own and run motor cars, and he persisted in doing so. Mr Justice Fair said it was impossible to grant probation. Instead of living within his salary, accused had chosen to live comfortably by a series of thefts. Giving weight to all that counsel had said, the least sentence that could be imposed was nine months’ imprisonment. A postal officer of 14 years’ stand-, ing, Bert Tattley £l, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to two charges of stealing letters addressed to a city firm and a, country bank branch, and a third charge of stealing a postal note from a letter. ! The police read a statement, in which Tattley admitted the He said that he kept the bank notes, and burnt the postal not| s 'and cheques; He thought the total value of the money stolen would be about £3O. He spent it mostly on bber, and did not bet. ‘ The police said that Tattley was married, with one child. His salary was £320. While the offences were going on over a period, 100 other men employed in the mail-roojn were under suspicion. Last October, 'another mail-sorter was convicted of! similar offences. Tattley’s thefts we/re com-

I mitted since the other man. was placed on probation. After hearing an appeal for lenienev by Mr Goldstine, Mr Morling, S.M., said he could allow sentiment and feeling for Tattley’s family to prevent him doing his duty to the public. On each of the three charges, Tattley was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the terms to be concurrent.