ILLEGAL WHITEBAITING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1926, Page 10

ILLEGAL WHITEBAITING

A WARNING TO OFFENDERS. Three charges under the regulations governing the taking of whitebait were made in the Magistrate's Court at New Plymouth yesterday against James Cunningham, a native. The charges were: (1) That he used seven set nets within two chains of each other; (2) that he used more than one set net; and (3) that he used a race in connection with the set nets. The third charge was admitted but the defendant denied that he had used more than one net. Whilst he and his family between them possessed three nets, the defendant himself .was using only one. The senior-sergeant produced the consent of the Minister of Native Affairs to the prosecution and also the regulation under which the prosecutions were brought. Constable Hadler stated that when he paid a visit to the Waiwakaiho River he found defendant and his wife and one child and another white boy with seven nets in close proximity to a race. In reply to the magistrate, the seniorsergeant said that the seven nets had been taken by the police, and no claim had been made for them. Mr. Quilliam said his client admitted an offence but stated that he had control of only one set. The magistrate said that this case had occurred at the same time as another, in which he had inflicted a light fine as a warning to people, and he felt that he ought to treat this defendant similarly. He made it clear, however, that if offences of this nature were repeated next season after the amount of warning given, heavier fines would be inflicted. The defendant was convicted on the third charge and fined 40s (costs 7s ). The other informations were dismissed. The magistrate made an order that all nets but one be confiscated.