LIMB ON RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18629, 9 February 1924, Page 11

LIMB ON RAILWAYS.

AN INCORRECT STATEMENT. " MERCHANT FINED £25^ [BE TELEGRAPH. — COKRESPOVIiBNT.] . HAMILTON. Friday A case affecting the carriage of agricultural lime on the railways w«s : heard before Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court to-day when Harold Speight and A. McFarlane, ■of Cambridge, were charged with making false statements in an order for the carriage of lime on the railway. Defendants pleaded guilty. ... Mr. H. T. Gillies, who appeared for the Railway Department, said that Speight was a partner in the firm of Speight, Davis, Nicol, and Pearce, Ltd., timber millers ad merchants. McFarlane was a storemanHn their employ. The fipi had been in the practice of purchasing agricultural lime for • the convenience of customers, and had always secured supplies in a regular and, proper manner except in the instance before the Court. An order was written by Speight stating that the lime was required for McFarlane, ■who was purported to be a bona-fide farmer, and was required for agricultural purposes. It was not alleged, said Mr. Gillies, that the department had lost a considerable sum in freight. The department carried agricultural lime required by farmers freo for 100 miles. > Mr. Gillies i mentioned that a. farmer named A. MoI Farlane was living near Cambridge. Speight's firm had paid treble freight for the consignment in question. Mr.- Gillie" admitted that the firm made little profit on handling lime for their customers, for the farmers could have secured it direct from the kilns at ,■■ the same price as Speight's firm charged them. Mr. J. F- Strang; foe defendants, sarid Speight's firm, in order to keep in touch with their customers, provided them witn storage room for lime and other requisites, He. could not say anything in palliation or excuse for the defendants' action, Speight had undertaken to assume responsibility . for McFarlane's offence. Speieht was fined £25, and ordered to pay £3 10s costs" McFarlane was fined £2 and £3 10s cost*.