FINE OF ONE PENNY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 2 (Supplement)

FINE OF ONE PENNY.

PROBABLE WORLD':* RECORD.

YEAB ALLOWED FOR PAYMENT

The death in Sydney recently of Mr. Milton Sydney Love, one of the civ's be.st known stipendiary magistrates, recalls a iino whid' lie once imposed, and which, for its smallness, was probably ;i world's record. .U the Newtown Court, one of the busies', of the metropolitan Courts, a young girl came before Mr. Love charged with a breach of the railway traffic regulations. Mr. Love, having heard Hie facts, suggested the withdrawal of the information, but because of departmental restrictions on the prosecuting officer, this course could not be ta\u.n. Mr. Love looked sympathetically i.t the little girl before him. " Very \vel\ then." he said with the utmost gravity, " the fine is one penny; in default one minute's imprisonment, and I will a,low the accused twelve months in which to pay the fine.'' The kindly-hearted old magistrate knew his law. but he did not allow its technicalities to blind his very clear perception of simple justice. The little girl paid her penny fine and went her way rejoicing. The British law. that is the admiration of other nations, had Iteen vindicated.