FINE OF £125.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 21 July 1937, Page 2

FINE OF £125.

f | Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 21. William Colin Wilkin, a coloured waterside worker, aged 53, was charged to-day with importing prepared opium and with being found in possession of prepared opium. He p’eaded not guilty on the first charge and guilty to thesecond. It was stated that accused was born in the British West Indies and had been in New Zealand 30 years. He had been under suspicion of being engaged in the opium traffic for some time. At about midday yesterday he was seen going aboard the Maunganui. on which he was not working, and was again seen going aboard at 5 p.m. He was accosted when coming ashore and was found to have ten tins of opium on his person. The value was mentioned as about £7O.

Tbe minimum penalty of £125 was imposed, in default six months’ imprisonment on the fii-st charge.

.“It : s most obvious that a syndicate p.ays.” said tbe Magistrate when time to pay was sought, hut he allowed two months provided the accused entered into a bond on his own recognisance.