Gaol For Breaches Of Light Regulations

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1941, Page 6

Gaol For Breaches Of Light Regulations

[Per Press Association.—Copyright] WELLINGTON, This Day.

The possibility of imprisonment be-> ing imposed in future for wilful breaches of the lighting regulations in black out suburbs was referred to by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court today, when Ernest Annear, a gas company employee, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the restrictions.

Annear was fined £2, the magistrate stating that the fine would have been £lO, but for Annear’s circumstances.

“Where we have lack of co-opera-tion and that lack of co-operation is wilfully committed, the courts have got to impose heavy penalties,” said Mr. Luxford. “Indeed, the court will have to consider whether imprisonment should net be imposed in the first instance.” Tore Notice Up

The police said that Annear 4 had been warned by a Lyall Bay warden to screen his lights. Later the warden saw blinds up and the lights showing. The warden handed him a notice setting out the regulations, and without reading it, Annear deliberately tore it up and threw it on the ground. Defendant said it was only an oversight that he had not drawn the blinds, but he had been used to having the blinds up and the windows open.