PRINTERS FINED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14947, 21 March 1912, Page 5

PRINTERS FINED.

PROTEST TO PRIME MINISTER. A number of printing firms, Collins Broa, Joseph Lyons and Company, Geo. Thos. Langley, Farnall and Muirhall, Francis Hy. Tuck, Jas. Fowler Catley, Clark and Matheson, J. Whelan and Company, Colledge and Sons, and The Berry Printing Works, Ltd., were fined £5 each and costs, at the Police Court yesterday, for using printing presses and typo without having received the certificate required by tho Printers and Newspapers Registration Act. Mr. E. C. Cutten was on the Bench. The minimum fine was imposed. Hy. D. Russell was similarly dealt with for using a printing press and type ; , after the delivery of the notice, in a, place other than that specified in the notice, and contrary to the same Act. Colledge and Sons were also fined £5 for printing a journal without having printed therein their name and addresses, as required by the Act. Tho Auckland Master Printers' Association met yesterday afternoon to take into consideration tho matter of the fines imposed at the Police Court in the morning. It was stated that the Act which renders compulsory tho registration of all printnig presses dates as far hack as 1865. Much indignation was expressed at the fact that these unintentionally offending master printers should have been " haled before the Court without word or warning" and convicted as if they wero undesirable or members of the criminal class, although many of them have lived the best part of their lives in the city. They decided to send the following telegram to the Prime Minister :—" Tho Auckland Master Printers' Association wish to call your attention to th© proceedings which took placo in the Magistrate's Court this morning, whereby the following members were fined five pounds and costsClark and Matheson. Collins Bros., Anderson and Company, J. Lyons and Company, Colledge and Sons, Whelan and Company, Berry Press, Langley and Son, Jenkins and Company non-registration of machines. They wish to state that the majority of these firms have been in existence for twenty years or more, and were in entire ignorance of the existence of any Act compelling the registration of machines, and would respectfully ask you to remit the fines."