£60 IN FINES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23761, 14 September 1940, Page 12

£6O IN FINES

OIL FUEL BREACHES GARAGE OWNER'S ACTION "NO POSSIBLE EXCUSE" "The oil fuel authorities consider this a serious case, ono in which the full penalty should be asked for," said Senior-Sergeant Joyce, when Frank Stanley Thompson, service station proprietor (Mr. King), appeared in tho Police Court, before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday, charged with two breaches of the Oil Fuel Regulations. Defendant pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Joyce said defendant took over a service station in Khyber Pass on May 11. Between then and August, there were discrepancies between the amount of petrol sold and tho coupons returned, amounting to more than 1100 gallons. In July there was a shortage of 746 gallons, and defendant reported to the detective office that petrol had been stolen from his station. He later said this may not have been bo. Even while detectives were making inquiries concerning the alleged stolen petrol, Mr. Joyce added, defendant sold 200 gallons in August without coupons. "This is a case of deliberate flouting of the law," the senior-sergeant concluded. "It is strange that there is no provision in the regulations for cancelling a licence. If there was, we should ask for it here." Counsel said this was defendant's first venture in business on his own account. Since beginning in May, he had worked long hours without adequate assistance. He had had no book-keep-ing experience, but had now engaged an accountant. Mr. Joyce: If he had received coupons for petrol sold, there would have been no difficulty. "There is no possible excuse for defendant's action," said the magistrate. Defendant was fined £35 on the first charge, and £25 on the second.