HOUSING ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1937, Page 6

HOUSING ACT

A PROSECUTION (Ret Press Association.—Copyright; AUCKLAND, May 21. What was stated to be the first pro-; secution in New’ Zealand under the 'Housing Survey Act was heard at the Police Court this morning, 'when Joseph Bowden, of Mounteden, was charged (in summons, with obstruction of an officer in the course of his duty. Mr Terry who prosecuted on behalf of the informant, Percy Jabez Crump Supervisor of Housing Surveyor for Mt Eden Borough Council, said when notice' was delivered to defehdent bn May lie would not allow anyone to go through his house. When two officers returned on May 11, defendant de-, manded to know their business, and absolutely Tefused to allow 7 them to inspect his house. He ordered them away, stating, “I will throw' you out and if you bring a policeman, I will throw him out too.” Mr Huband, counsel for defendant, said Bowden was a- man with a hasty temper, and was under the imoression that the sanctity of an Englishman’s home still obtained. He used no physical force.

“Apparently he was a little oldfashioned, but that is no excuse for liis attitude,” said 1 the Magistrate, Mr Orr Walker, who fined defendant £1 and ordered him to pay the solicitor’s foe. “By imposing this small fine,” the Magistrate added, “T do not want the public to think this offence is a trivial one. It is nothing of the sort,”