PIRATE SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 10

PIRATE SERVICES

UNLICENSED PASSENGER CARS SYSTEMATIC ORGANISATION (Per United Press Association). GISBORNE, July 1. The not uncommon practice of the travelling public utilising unlicensed cars for transport from one town to another, mainly on the score of cheaper fares, resulted in lengthy proceedings today before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., when Gordon Colin Isabeth was charged with operating an unlicensed passenger sen-ice between Gisborne and Auckland and with being without a heavy traffic license. Marion Ada Beattie and James Sidney Beattie were charged with acting as agents for an unlicensed passenger service operated by Isabeth. Mr E. H. Barrett, chief traffic officer of the Transport Department, who prosecuted, said that Isabeth had been engaged in an unlicensed service between Gisborne and Auckland which he had been carrying on for the past two years. After evidence had been given the heavy traffic charge was dismissed. Mr Barrett said that searching inquiries were made regarding all passengers booked up. Members of the Police Force and service drivers had booked up, but had been declined. As long as nine days had been taken to investigate an intending passenger’s bona fides. The whole thing was very carefully organised. He himself had tried to get a passage, but had failed. He was instructed to ask for a very substantial penalty. The defendant was fined £lO and £6 5s 6d costs. Mrs Beattie was fined £lO and costs (£3 12s 9d), and the charge against her husband was dismissed. James Murray was charged with running an unlicensed passenger service from Gisborne to Auckland and with not providing a third-party insurance cover. The defendant was fined £lO and costs on the first charge and £2 and costs on the third-party insurance charge. Mrs Beattie, on a charge of acting as an agent for Murray, was fined £2 and costs, a similar charge against her husband being dismissed.