DILATORY MOTOR OWNER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 7

DILATORY MOTOR OWNER

Non-Payment of Tax

Two charges under the Motor Vehicles Act were preferred against Harold Boy Painter, motor mechanic, at the Bastings Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr J. Miller, B.M. Defendant pleaded not guilty to a charge thaf, being tho owner of u motor vehicle exempt from an annual license fee, he failed to lodge a declaration as to the total number of miles of public highway over which the vehicle was used from September 1, 1936, to February 29, 1936; and not guilty to a charge of failing to pay the prescribed tax, together with the penalty provided for on account of the late lodgment of the declaration The defendant conducted his own vase and Senior-Sergeant Macnamara prosecuted.

Senior Sergeant Macnamara said that the defendant was the owner of a toghauler used as a crane in bushfelling work. He had been written to by the Post Office authorities by way of warning, and had failed to make a declaration. So far the tax had not been paid, nor had the penalties for the late lodgment of returns. Defendant had later filled in the declarations. Expressing a wish to shorten the rase, which apneared likelv to be protracted, His Worship interrupted the evidence and told defendant that he had been dilatory, in spite of the fact that Post Office authorities had tried in every way to meet him. The forms hnd been' altered to meet his wishes. The Court could not concern itself with a lot of quibbles. Defendant was fined £1 ]O/. with 10/- eosts on each charge, and was allowed one month in which to pay.