RATION BREACHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25160, 24 March 1945, Page 8

RATION BREACHES

SALES OF TEA FIRM FINED £IOO Three breaches of the rationing regulations wore admitted by Hughes and Cossar. Ltd. (Mr Wallace), before Mr J. H. Luxt'ord, S.M., yesterday. The charges alleged that tlie firm made an untrue statement by declaring that its stocks of tea in October last were 62021b instead of 42161b, that it had supplied the tea without the appropriate number of available coupons and that it had sold rationed goods without the necessary retailer's licence. Senior-Sergeant Bennett said the firm had sold tea in >slb lots, taking 40 coupons for each lot, but sending only those available for the particular period to the controller, tea had, therefore, been supplied on coupons which were not yet available. The firm had neglected to apply for a retailer's licence. Counsel said the breach regarding the licence was due simply to inadvertence. Before the war the firm was agent for Ceylon tea. which was shipped ii" olb boxes and which was unsuitable for breaking down into smaller packets or for blending. The Food Controller had been asked several times for a direction as to the disposal of the stocks, but had not replied. A few consumers we,re then supplied with 51b lots of the tea. They received no extra amount, mereiv getting tlheir ration in advance. The error in return was due mainly to carelessness. There was no deliberate attempt to. deceive, nor was there any question of black ma rketing. The magistrate said the cause of the breaches lay between gross carelessness and a lack of responsibility on the part of a merchant entrusted with the administration of the regulations. Flip firm was fined £IOO on one charge and was convicted on the other two. DEGREES CONFERRED AUCKLAND STUDENTS (0.c.) WELLINGTON. Friday The following degrees were conferred on Auckland University College students by the University of New Zealand today : Master of Arts: William Stanley Lowe, B.Com. Bachelor of Arts: Josiah Box, Ramsey Ramnarayan Deoki. Alan Logan Ferguson, Hilary Malcolm Lansdown, Leslie Alexander Lorimer, Allan Stanley Mackie, Charles William Malcolm and Francis Joseph McLaughlin. Bachelor of Science: Joyce Millicent Bell. Bachelor of Commerce: William Kennedy Coad and Harold Albert Kensington Palmer. SERVICE LOSSES SOLDIER AND AIRMAN Reported killed on active service, Lance-Corporal P. G. T. Donovan was the husband of Mrs N. Donovan, of 1-5 Spring Street, Onehunga, and son of the late Mr and Mrs H. Donovan, of Parnel 1. I.le was educated at St. John's Convent and Parnell School. He played for the Marist ( id Boys' senior League football team and rowed for the St. George Rowing Club, lie joined the Armv in 1941 and left New Zealand in May', 104.'1. Flying-Officer G. H. Dodds, who has been reported killed on air operations, was the husband of Mrs F. .J, Dodds, of Putaruru, and only son of Mr and Mrs A. W. Dodds, of 21 Pine Street. Balmoral. Pie was 28 years of age and was educated at the Paparoa School and Whangarei High School. FlyingOfficer Doclds joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942 and completed his training as a navigator in Canada. In 104.'! he was posted to a New Zealand squadron, with which he gained a commission. . About the end of last year he joined a Mosquito bomber squadron. GIFT TO HEADMASTER The presentation of a wristlet watch was made to the former headmaster of the Koliimnrama School, Mr N. M. Carr, by the chairman of the school committee. Mr F. R. Morley, at a social evening attended by the committee and parents at Mission Bay on Thursday. Mr Carr, who was at the Rohimarama School for seven years, i<; now the headmaster of the Beresford Street School. A gift was also made on behalf of the teachers and Mrs Carr was presented with a bouquet.