REFUSED TO CLOSE HIS SHOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12929, 27 July 1905, Page 5

REFUSED TO CLOSE HIS SHOP.

.;'. A FISHMONGER FINED. ; ■ •• v ".MY DUTY IS TOWARDS MY J; . CREDITORS." [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Christchuroh, Wednesday. There, is at least one- person in New Zealand who does not agree with the Premier and the poet Bracken that this colony is " God's own country." He is a local fishmonger, who was charged yesterday with failing to close his shop on Thursday afternoon, as required by the Shops Act. The Grown Prosecutor stated that the offence had been continuing since June 15. Exemption was granted to fishmongers, but they must sell nothing but Mi. Defendant, however, • sold rabbits, poultry, and other things,, and was not entitled to exemption. "The matter had' been repeatedly brought under the notice of the defendant, and he had written the following letter to the Labour Department's inspector: — "After carefully. thinking the matter over re closing on Thursday afternoons, J. have decided not to do so, as 1 think my duty is towards my creditor? before obeying any unjust laws that have been passed. Any citizen, to be a credit to the country, should do his best to pay' his debts before all other considerations. The Government fill not pay my debts if I am unable to do so, therefore, as a man, 1 should resist any encroachment on my liberty as a British subject when I am trying in an honest'manner to fulfil my engagements. If lam wrong in my decision and brought into Court over this matter, I will have to pay the penalty, and that will simply mean one more step in my decision to leave this fair land, where laws are made to harass business men and drive capital out of' the country." Defendants solicitor said that iff the face of that letter he could not contest the case, and defendant was fined 10s and costs.