SUNDAY TRADING

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 47

SUNDAY TRADING

AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. MAGISTRATE'S DECISION REVERSED. WELLINGTON, February 27. ■An importune judgment, declaring in effect that Sunday trading in ''marble bars and similar establishments is not illegal, was delivered in the Supreme Court to-day by the Chief Justice. The case was an appeal brought by the -managers of three city establishments against their conviction by Mr M'Carthy, S.M., on charges of keeping their shops open on Sunday. The magistrate found iiiat the shops were open of necessity for the supply of refreshments to certain people. His Honor commented: — ''In my opinion, therefore, the magistrate, having found that the shops "were open of necessity for somo people to be supplied with food, and as the offence charged is simply that of keeping open the Ehops, and not selling goods, the appellants ought not to have been convicted. In my opinion, therefore, the conviction is wrong, and the appeals must be allowed." No costs were granted. OFFENCES IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Harold Jones 'was fined 10s and costs for Sunday trad'lie. The defendant advertised that he had fruit for sale fliat could be obtained on< Sunday. Ho admitted the facts, but said he dirj not think ;i broach of the law had been committed, as the sale was at his private residence. John Whittle was fined 5s for a similar offence. The police gave evidence that defendant was struggling to mako his business pay, and the receipts from Sunday trading were of great assistance.