SPORTSMEN CHARGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 17

SPORTSMEN CHARGED.

BREACHES OF REGULATIONS.

WEN PHEASANTS KILLED.

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINES. > Several prosecutions brought against sportsmen by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society for breaches of regulations governing the shooting of game birds were heard before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. "This is ono of the greatest '.crimes a sportsman can commit," remarked the magistrate when E. L. Fooks was charged with killing two hen pheasants. It was staled by S. D. Patter, a ranger employed by the society, that ho stopped a motor-car on tho road near Clevcdon on May 19. There wore two hep pheasants in the car and Fooks admitted he had shot them. Mr. West, for tho society, said the offcnco was a serious ono. It cost about 10s or 15s for the society to rear and liberate ono hen bird, and it was a severe loss to have them shot. Fooks was fined £7 10s, with costs £3 2s. W. G. Bradley, who was with Fooks, was fined £5, with costs £2 2s, for taking game without a licence. He stated he merely loaded tho guns for Fooks. Charges of shooting with over 15 decoys and of obstructing a ranger were denied by A. G. Peckham (Mr. Singer). Walter P. Searle, ranger, said he found defendant on the Whangamarino Stream on May 8 while patrolling the waterway in his launch. There were 19 decoys in the water, four more than were permitted under tho regulations. Witness said ho got into his punt and started to pick up the decoys, and defendant then got into his purit and tried to rarn witness' craft. Defendant grabbed two of the decoys and later jumped out on the bank, and picking up a stick invited witness to land. Mr. Singer said Peckham denied having 19 decoys or obstructing the ranger. Ho said further that the ranger had tried deliberately to catch bin). The Magistrate: Well, that is what he is paid for. A fino of £5, with costs £3 ss, was imposed for , using too many decoys. Defendant was acquitted of obstruction, the magistrato remarking that he did not want to make the penalty too heavy and that the minimum fine for obstruction was substantial. Two brothers, Reginald Sinton and George Sinlon, were each fined £2 for trespassing on prohibited property in pursuit of game. Reginald Sinton was also convicted and discharged for taking or killing game without a licence. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said it did not seem to be understood that the mere fact that a person went after game constituted "taking or killing" under the regulations. As a, matter Of fact, no birds were taken in the present case, but that was not the fault of the men concerned, for shots had been fired.