TWO FIGHTS WHICH COST £l5

Northern Advocate, 21 June 1937, Page 2

TWO FIGHTS WHICH COST £ls

A couple of fights which he had outside- the Parochial Hall and a dance hall at Ngunguru proved costly for Robert Picket, -who, on conviction at the Whangarei Police Court today, was faced with a bill for £l4- 2/6 witnesses’ expenses and £ 1 court costs.

Arthur Abraham Davis, a labourer of Onehunga. said that, without any provocation having been given, accused attempted to put him out of the Parochial Hall and later struck him. The following night at'Ngunguru, Ricket came across to the car and hit witness, who was in the driving seat. ’ r , Expensive Witnesses. Evidence was given by two brothers of Davis, and by Takiri Titori Puriri, an overseer for the Native Department, who was accosted by Ricket when attempting to quell the disturbance. Ricket, it was stated, had partaken of drink., • '■ Senior-Sergeant Finch said that the police had been under the that Ricket intended to defend the" easel and had brought witnesses from Auckland, Kaihu, Waipu and the Par North. The total expenses claim amounted to £l9 16/-, which included rail and bus fares, and, in some cases, payment for three days and two nights. .The magistrate: Is it necessary to allow three days and two nfghts in respect to a witness brought from Waipu? You know I always meet the police in such cases when countrybuses arrive in town later in the day. Must Be Reasonable. “Reasonableness has got to be exercised in this question of .'transport and accommodation, and I don’t propose to allow extra for a witness who has had to spend longer away from home because the train is used. Senior-Sergeant Finch: We have a memo, from ’ the Prime Minister , in-, structing us to use the train when available. ,

Mr Morris: I have had correspondence on this matter with our Minister and have instructions. I do not intend to allow rail fares when other transport is cheaper, ' The claim for witnesses’ expenses was reduced to £l4 2/6, and the magistrate, in convicting Ricket, split up these expenses and the court costs among the four charges.