TWO BLACK TEAL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 356, 13 September 1933, Page 2

TWO BLACK TEAL

Found in Sportsmen’s Bag

ILLEGAL INTENT DENIED

A sequel to a duck shooting expedition by a party of Taranaki sportsmen was heard in the Magistrate’s Court at Te Kuiti before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., when

George Augustus Carter was charged with having protected game in his possession at Te Anga on May 4.

Evidencc was given by Janueis Dobson, chief ranger for the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, to the effect that with an assistant ranger he stopped a car on its way from Taharoa Lakes to Tc Kuiti, driven by Carter who had with him a i assenger named Petrie, Both men produced shooting licenses. On 'examination, the ranger found a bag containing 60 ducks, two black teal, and a swan. He drew the, attention of both men to the presence of two black teal,which were protected birds. Carter stated the birds must, have been put in the bag by the Maoris who did the packing. Witness took possession of the teal, also. Carter s gun, which Carter reluctantly handed over. , . , This evidence was corroborated by an assistant ranger. For the defence, Mr Coleman submitted that section 40, under which Carter was charged, required that a "guilty mind” should be established. Carter had no knowledge of hto teal being In the bag.

Carter, who said he was secretary of the Stratford branch of the Acclimatisation Society, said he left Taranaki with six other sportsmen for Taharoa Lakes on May 1, on a shooting expedition. The party remained at the lakes for a period of three days, shooting 90 ducks and three black swans. It was arranged to divide the spoil. He was forced to leave the camp hurriedly, and the natives with whom they were camped packed the game. He was not aware of the teal being ip the bag until discovered by the ranger. Senior Sergeant J. J. Power, of Hamilton, formerly of Stratford, testified to Carter’s integrity and zeal as an officer of the Stratford Society, and said Carter had brought many prosecutions for poaching. John Petrie, of Stratford, and Edward Power, of New Plymouth, members of the shooting party, said that no black teal had been taken by any members of the expedition. The two black teal, which had been preserved in the freezer, wore produced in court by the ranger. Mr B. Mackersey, who appeared for the Acclimatisation Society, argued at length in rebuttal of the leva! points in test cases submitted by Mr Coleman. The magistrate reserved decision.