FINES TOTAL £150

Southland Times, Issue 25482, 30 September 1944, Page 4

FINES TOTAL £150

Two Men In Possession Of

Uncustomed Spirits

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 29. Possession of uncustomed goods—bottles of spirits alleged to be owned by a “slygrogger of some notoriety in the courts”—led to two men being fined a total of £l5O by the Magistrate, Mr J. H. Luxford, today. Frederick Fletcher, a plumber, pleaded guilty to being found in possession of 120 bottles of spirits and was fined £5O. Mr V. R. Meredith, for the Crown, said nine cases labelled “United States coffee” were found on Fletcher’s premises. Fletcher’s explanation was that the cases had been left on his premises by a man who, Mr Meredith said, was notorious in the courts as a slygrogger.

Counsel for Fletcher said his client had no knowledge of the contents of the cases.

A fine of £lOO was imposed on Pedro Jean Tailou, a seaman, who was charged with possession of 34 bottles of liquor. The defendant said the liquor had been left at his premises for collection later by an Allied sailor. In imposing a fine the Magistrate said this case was different from the previous one. The defendant was assisting in the illicit handling of liquor.

SHEARING CLASS. — The annual shearing class for learners will be held at Lumsden for 10 days, beginning on October 31. This was reported to the Invercargill District Council of Primary Production at its meeting yesterday. It was stated that the class would be under the supervision of Mr A. F. J. Heath, of Lumsden. If there was a demand for it a second class would be held.

RED CROSS CONCERT . — An enjoyable concert was staged at Wairio by the Invercargill JR.S.A. Concert Party in aid of the Red Cross. The hall was filled to capacity and the audience was most appreciative, .the varied items being encored. During the interval an auction sale was held. As the result of the party’s performance the special appeal for the Sick and Wounded and Prisoners of War Fund will benefit by more than £3O.