CONSTABLE SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24970, 12 August 1944, Page 6

CONSTABLE SHOT

BULLET WOUND IN ABM ESCAPE OF THREE MEN A constable was shot in the arm during a struggle early yesterday morning with two of three men he was taking to the Newton police station as suspects in connection with an attempted burglary in Ka'-angahape Road. The victim, Constable llichaid William Meyer, of the Newton station, was left lying 011 the footpath, and the three men escaped. At about 12.45 a.m., while on his beat near the premises of George Court and Sons, Ltd., Constable Meyer hear the sound of breaking glass, and hurried in the direction of Upper Queen J>truet. He was approaching the lront dooi oi the Wholesale Clearing House, lob Karaitgahape Road, when he saw a man standing on the footpath with his )acv toward him. Asked what he was doing there, the man rephed that he was "iust taking the air." Constable Meyei then noticed two other men standing near the doorway of the premises, and lie saw that a glass panel in the door had been smashed. Thrown to Ground The constable told the three men that he would take them to the Newton police station to make further inquiries, and they walked along the street with him. As they approached the Street intersection, the suspects bioke away, but the constable managed to catch one of them. A struggle took place and the other two men returned. One of them tried to obstruct the constable, who was thrown to the ground in the struggle and kicked. He had just regained his feet when the third man, who had not taken part in the strugg e. put his hand in his overcoat pocket ana drew out something which shone. J lie other two men broke away from the constable after knocking him down. As he fell, he heard the report ol a revolver shot. Search for Suspects Constable M<\V< r l".-t consciousness for a time, and was found lying on the footpath bv a taxi driver. He was later taken to the Auckland Hospital, where it was found that a bullet had penetrated his left elbow, but had not touched the hone. After being treated in the casualty department, he was able to go home. A bullet, was found by Sergeant J. H. I)eunehy i lodged in the beading of a shop window in I ranee Street. A special detachment of _ detectives and constables began searching for the three men as soon as the incident was reported to the central police .station. No arrests had been made at a late hour last night.

MAN-MADE LAW STA BILI SAT I ()N POLIOY MAGISTRATE SEES CONFLICT (0.c.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Questions upon the general application of the Economic Stabilisation Emergency Regulations were put by Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., to Air F. Wilson, inspector of factories, New Plymouth, when lie conducted a prosecution in the Hawera Court. Mr Salmon commented that he did not know what would happen when the natural law of supply and demand came in conflict with tlie manmade law, but the man-made law, being what it was, must be enforced. The case involved the proprietor of beauty salons at Hawera and Stratford, who admitted two charges of employing assistants at Hawera at rates of pay in excess of the stabilised rates of pay. He was fined £1 on each charge and one assistant was fined 10s for accepting pay in excess of the stabilised rates. Effect on Economy After outlining changes in staff employed by the salon proprietor and increases in wages granted, the inspector said the result was that the defendant still had the same number of girls in his employ, but his wages bill had increased by £2 os a week. "It is inflation," said Mr Wilson. "He is getting no better service. We have had the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand making public references to the Stabilisation Regulations and their effect upon the economy of the country. If the financial position got out of hand he emphasised that it was small amounts that in aggregate might turn the scales and we should then be in deep waters." Mr Salmon: What do the regulations do? Mr Wilson: They fix as the basic wage the rate payable on December 15, 1942. "Why choose that date?" asked Mr Salmon "That was the date on which the regulations were brought in for immediate application," saicl Mr Wilson. Watersiders and Miners

The Magistrate: Do they apply to watersiders and miners? ' Mr Wilson: I can't answer that because I have nothing to do with watersiders and miners. I read the newspapers. That matter is outside my jurisdiction altogether. "I don't Know if the economy of the country will be affected by increase in the wages of two girls in a beauty salon, whereas it may have a great effect by increases to watersiders and miners, who are large in number," said Mr Salmon. Mr Wilson: When you take the number of people employed in shops throughout the country they would swamp the watersiders and miners. In reply to a further question by the magistrate, Mr Wilson said that as far as he knew the Stabilisation Regulations applied to all employees. "It looks like a case of the employer yielding to the law of supply and demand in spite of regulations to the contrary," said Mr Salmon in imposing the penalties. OIL FUEL FORGERY TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT (P.A.) TVANGANUI, Friday "1 am justified in believing that you have been systematically disregarding the regulations relating to the use of petrol and T am not entitled to assume that this is the result of muddle," said Mr Justice Blair todav in sentencing Manswel! George Podjursky, petrol station proprietor, aged 37. to two years' imprisonment with hard labour on each of two ehargeß of forgery in respect of his returns to the district oil fuel controller. The sentences are to be concurrent. RAILWAY THEFTS SIX MONTHS IN GAOL (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday "The Court cannot regard these offences as otherwise than serious," said Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in Hamilton today when Basil Leo Corkin, aged 43, railway employee (Mr King), admitted the theft of articles, consisting chiefly of building materials, to the value of £SO. Detective-Sergeant W. R. Murray said that accused was employed as a train examiner and over a period of a year had been taking building materials and other goods from the railway station at Frankton. Mr King said that accused had not been in trouble before. The magistrate said that accused had taken advantage of his position and had acted according to a plan. A sentence of six months' imprisonment was imposed. OYSTER SEASON ENDS The last shipment of oysters for this season reached Auckland on Thursday and sold so rapidly that there was none to bo had in the city yesterday afternoon. As all the beds in the province have furnished their full quota, the season is now officially closed. The total number of sacks which reached Auckland this year wa> over 6000 and was the highest for 17 years. Cultivation of new beds and the protection of old ones by the Marine Department have been responsible for the increased crop.