TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17729, 13 September 1919, Page 9

TELEGRAMS.

(Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, September 12. In the Magistrate's Court, Leonard Russell was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and Harry Spoonor to one month, on charges of sly grcg-salling. A charge against Mrs Annio loonier was dismissed. CHRISTCR UROH, September 12. In the Magistrate's Court to-day two men were lined £2, and costs, for playing a gurao of chance at Riccarton last month. The evidence of the police showed that the accused, with' two others, were playing " two-up" on the road late at night. On a charge of having failed to report to the Group Command Office-No. 12, at Nelson, on July 12, 1917, for medical examination, and with having absented himself ftom that thrjo until arrested, Thomas Patrick CDoherty has been sentenced by a court-martial to 11 months' hard labour. WHAKATANE September 12. An interesting decision arising out of tho house shortage was given by Mr Kcnrick, S.M., against an owner who required possession for two workmen. He refused an ejectment order against a tenant who was not in arrears, and whose wife "was in delicate health, because another cottage belonging to the same owner was available, and tho tenant owed three months' ront ALLEGED PROFITEERING DRAPERY FIRM PROSECUTED. CASE ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY. (Psa Ukited Pbess Association.) m. n September 12. •y i 8 ®t c ? so of the kind hoard in New Zealand was hoard in the Magistrate's Court to-day, George and Kcreley, a well-known drapery firm bcin ? "charged by the Board oit irade with profiteering—namelv, "that they did sell certain goods (to wit, two yards of flannel known as No. 5 Shetland flannel) at 3s 3d per yard, t-ho price for which is unreasonably high; tho opportunity of obtaining such' a price in New Zealand having arisen by reason of the scarcity of such goods in New Zealand, caused by war conditions." The evidence for tho Crown elicited tho »act t-nat it was a general rule in th? drapery trado in fixin" prices to give an average return of 33 l-3rd per cent, on tho turnover, which would fce about 50 per on the cost, but there "was no uniformity, and in some lines"the profit was much smaller. I In opening for the defence, Sir John tindlay said the court was asked to view the pro.it on one art:cle. If ev?ry artiolei in a shop was to be taken separately th" retailers wcfcild be crushed. The Act walj never intended to apply to a case of thW bnt was airrrod at monopoly. / The case was adjourned till Monday after I noon. • ' '