FIXED MINIMUM FINE
“Out of All Reason”
MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT
(By Telegraph—Press Association.)
PALMERSTON N., Sept. 16.
“I am very much against minimum fines being fixed for this class of offence. It compels me to inflict a fine which is out of all reason. It seems absurd a magistrate, who is a qualified man, should be bound down by Parliament to impose such a fine. However, the Legislature says I must do it, though in this case I consider it too much,” said Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., when fining two Chinese £l2 10/- each, one for being found on premises being used for smoking opium and the other for smoking prepared opium on the premises.
Counsel said that the first defendant was visiting a brother and stayed at the premises only. The other man was smoking seconds.
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 231, 16 September 1935, Page 7
Word Count
137FIXED MINIMUM FINE Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 231, 16 September 1935, Page 7
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