FIXED PENALTIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 6

FIXED PENALTIES

OBJECTION BY MAGISTRATE

CHINESE AND OPIUM. “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 that a Magistrate, who is a qualified man, should be bound down by Parliament to impose such a fine. However, the Legislature says that I must do it, though in this case 1 consider that it is too much.” This comment was made by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North to-day when dealing with two Chinese who appeared on charges relating to opium. Sing Lee was charged with being found without lawful excuse on premises at 317 Main Street, being used for the smoking of opium. Sam Kwong was charged with smoking prepared opium on the premises. Both pleaded guilty, two further charges against the latter of being found without lawful excuse on the premises, and with being found in possession of prepared opium, being withdrawn by the police. Senior-Sergeant Moriarty said that Constables Barrett and Miller visited the premises of Ah Joe and found there tho two accused and also two pipes and two lamps for smoking. Counsel said both accused were market gardeners, of Otaki. Sing Lee came to Palmerston North to see his brother, and stayed at tfie premises, but was not smoking opium. Sam Kwong was smoking, “seconds,” the ashes of previous smokes. Each of the accused was fined £l2 10s, with 10s costs, default being fixed at one month’s imprisonment. An order was made for the confiscation of the pipes and lamps.