WORK ON SUNDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19513, 17 December 1926, Page 16

WORK ON SUNDAY.

FISHING FOR WHITEBAIT. QUESTION FOR MAGISTRATE. [BY TIiLEGEAPH. OWN COEJaKS!PONDEJTT. ] PUKBKOHE. Thursday,, Fishing'.for whitebait in the Waib.to Eiver on a Sunday led to the appearance of four persom in the Pukekohe Police Court to-day before Mr. ;J., W. Poynton, S.M.-, charged with plying' their calling on Sunday in iview of a public place. The first defendant was Charles Hetherington (Mr. Gray),, of Eaitamgata, who entered a plea of not guilty. Mr. Gray admitted that defendant followed the occupation of whitebait-fishing in the season and that he engaged in this calling on any day in the week. Constable Maiden, of Tuakau, gave evidence that on Sunday, October 24, he found defendant fishing for whitebait on the batiks of the river. The public had free access to the locality and boats plied up and down the river past the spot. To Mr. Gray witness said it was rather an isolated spot, bat the boats go up and down and settlers arid picnic parties use the river. He did not see any boats that day. Mr. Gray submitted that, as the law prohibiting Sunday work did not extend to farming, by analogy it could not bo held to apply to whitebait-fishing either. The law was intended apparently to apply wore to trading. _ The Magistrate: Chinese have been ifiued for working 'in their market gardens on, Sunday. Mr. Gray submitted, as a second defence, that the place where defendant* was found fishing was not a public ,resort within the meaning of the Act. There was no proof that any member of the public saw defendant, there, or that the public frequented the place. The magistrate said if it was not for this law competition would tend! to result in seven days' labour per week becoming the general rule. Sergeant Felton said this principle was, involved in the present proceedings. One whitebait-canning factory on the river did not work on Sundays and complaints were received that the other one did. The police investigated and found the four defendants and the factory nearby working on the Sunday. The three other defendants were native women, who admitted that they were catching' whitebait on the Sunday. The magistrate reserved his decision. DEMON STB ATi[o N OF OAK. SALESMAN FINED TWO POUNDS, [B? XKLECRAPB.--I'PliaSS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Motor-car salesmen who demonstrate their cars on Sunday are breaking the law, and therefore liable to a fine. Such is the ruling of Mr. E. Page, S.M.. in a reserved judgment which he delivered to-day John Barns, a motor salesman, was charged with working at his trade on Sunday. Mr. Page said that defendant had been demonstrating a car with the intention of selling it. The onus was on him to prove that this was not 60. A fine of £2 and costs was inflicted.