ILLEGAL PETROL SALES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 12

ILLEGAL PETROL SALES

GARAGE OWNER FINED £lO COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE [BY: ■ TELEGRAPH—OWN" . . ■ - ROTOB.UA;, Tuesday An offence connected with tho War Regulations had its sequel in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr. S. L. Patterson, S.M., when Stanley Guy Morton, of Turangi, was charged that he sold petrol between November 4 and 30 to unauthorised persons. Defendant was the proprietor of a fishing lodge at Turangi, stated Detective White, when lie took over a local garage at the beginning of the month. Records of sales had formerly been properly kept, but it was found that there had been grave laxity in this respect during the rest of the month. The records showed that .501 gallons had been disposed of to those holding licences and coupons, but a total of 2146 gallons had been received during the month. Although a certain quantity of this was; accounted for (although not corrective entered), there was still a serious deficit.

Morton, who pleaded guilty, stated that he had taken over the garage with one member of the former staff. He understood this man was conversant with the regulations, of which he hirnsolf knew nothing. .The keeping of the accounts had been left to the employee until he found that they were in arrears. He assured the Court that he had given the matter personal attention since then.

"Those regulations have been laid down in the interests of the community and it is essential that they should be carried out strictly. Substantial penalties must bo inflicted even when a case may not appear serious," commented the magistrate, in fining defendant £lO, with costs.