LAUNDRYMEN FINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26816, 6 July 1948, Page 3

LAUNDRYMEN FINED

BREACH OF PRICE ORDER CITY POLICE COURT CASES Four Chinese laundrymen appeared before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the City Police court yesterday charged with a breach of the price order under the Control oi Prices Act. The defendants were Wah Lee, • Wah Sang, Chin Fooi, and Gin Fang Fee. Each was fined £5 and costs (lOsj, and was ordered to pay solicitor’s fee (£2 2s) on each information. Mr. J. B. Deaker, who prosecuted, said that, as a result of complaints about overcharging for laundry work, the department had carried out investigations. Chin Fooi had made an application to be allowed to increase his charges, but this had not been allowed. The defendant apparently had a Wellington list in which the prices seemed to be somewhat higher than those allowed in Dunedin. Wan Lee had charged 3s for laundering a dress shirt instead of 2s, and Wah Sang had made a charge of Is for a shirt instead of Bd. A customer of Chin Fooi’s had been charged 8d for collars instead of 7Jd, and Gin Fang Fee had made an overcharge for laundering shirts and collars. Mr H. L. Gibson, for the defendants, said the prices charged in Wellington and the other main centres were substantially in excess of those allowed in Dunedin. Counsel pointed out that the defendants imported their starch from China, and the price had gone up from Is 6d to 3s per lb. Owing to the increased overhead, the defendants had decided to pass the increases on to the public. They had been perfectly frank about the matter, and he was sure there would be no repetition of the offence. Mr Deaker pointed out that the Price Tribunal had apparently considered there was no justification for an increase in Dunedin. The magistrate commented that there had been a wilful defiance of the Pries Tribunal. Assault Admitted “ The defendant is very sorry for himself, as he realises there might have been a more serious charge against him.” commented Mr A. B. Quelch, counsel for James Kevin McCarthy, aged 19, a linesman, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on Saturday last. Senior Sergeant J. H. Hogg said the defendant went to the Town Hall on Saturday about 10.15 p.m., paying admission as a spectator. He saw a number of his friends amongst those dancing, and he went downstairs. He refused to pay the extra charge, and became abusive. He then assaulted one of the proprietors of the dance. The latter was knocked down, but apparently was not seriously hurt, as he ran after the defendant and caught him in the street. There was no justification' for the defendant’s action. Mr Quelch said the defendant had had liquor before he went to the Town Hall, and, though he was not drunk, it had some effect on him. The defendant had been attracted by a tug-of-war, and ho wanted to go on to the stage. He had offered the extra admission money to a doorkeeper, who explained that he had to obtain a ticket. The defendant had not been in trouble before. The magistrate characterised the affair as an “ exhibition of larrikinism.” and imposed a penalty of £5. Intoxicated Motorist George David Simpson, aged 27, a glazier, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor car while Intoxicated. Senior Sergeant J. H. Hogg said that at 5.15 a.m. on ' Sunday a constable on duty on the Victoria wharf saw the accused walking along the wharf in an intoxicated state. He disappeared, for a time, and the constable then heard the sound of a motor car being started. The front wheels of the car were over the edge of the wharf, and the services of a breakdown van had to be obtained to retrieve it from its precarious position. The accused was taken to the Police Station and found to be intoxicated. The accused, who was not represented by counsel, said he was sorry for his wife’s sake for what had happened. The magistrate said he would take into consideration that the car had not been driven in a public place and that it had not been driven a long distance. The accused was fined £25, his licence was cancelled, and he was prohibited from obtaining another for 12 months. Absent Without Leave Albert Victor Oakman, aged 23, a seaman, appeared on remand on a charge of ship desertion. He pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Mr F. W. Guest. Mr J. C. Robertson, for the shipping company concerned, said the accused left the Australind at Auckland on December 17 last, 1 and came to Dunedin, where he had been working ever since. He had not reported to the company or to the police. Mr Guest submitted that ,the defendant had not committed desertion, but had been absent without leave. He had come to Dunedin in order to visit' friends, and he understood that the ship would not sail until after Christmas. The accused learned through the newspapers that it left Auckland on‘4 i December 24, and he decided to remain in Dunedin. He had given every satisfaction to his employer in Dunedin. The accused, in evidence, said he visited the ship when it came to Dunedin last month He saw the engineer, but the captain was away at the time. The charge was amended to one of being absent without leave, and the accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour and ordered to forfeit two days’ pay owing to him by the shipping company. .C-_ Trespassing on Racecourse Richard Edward Skull Wilson, a farmer, of Owaka. John Joseph Cawley, a seaman, and Ronald Potiki Love, a labourer, admitted charges of trespassing on the Wingatui racecourse on June 12 last during the progress of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting, and were each fined £2 10s, with costs (10s). Detective J. C. Russell, who conducted the prosecution, said the accused had been removed from the course by a detective. Wilson had made an application to the authorities to have his disqualification removed, but this had been refused. Delivering Firearms John Gordon Mills, a builder, admitted two charges of delivering possession of firearms to unauthorised persons. Detective Russell explained that the prosecution arose from a complaint by a farmer at Whare Flat as a result of trouble caused by two youths, who had been dealt with by the Children’s Court. The magistrate, in imposing a penalty of 30s and costs (10s) on each charge, said the defendant should be more careful to whom he lent rifles in the future. Drunkenness Robert Milne Stewart, aged 49, an electrician, was fined 20s on a charge of drunkenness. The defendant admitted a conviction for a similar offence in May last. Senior Sergeant J. H. Hogg commented that, in spite of the decision of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association concerning ” shouting,” there had been a good deal of drunkenness over the weekend. Chimney Fires For permitting chimney fires, William Anderson. Alexander Patrick Jordan, George Valentine Pennycuick and Ivie Winter were each fined 10s and costs (10s).