PETROL THEFTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1941, Page 6

PETROL THEFTS

AT WIGRAM AERODROME. TWO EMPLOYEES FINED. (By. Telegraph— Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Two employees of the Wigram Aerodrome, Russell Cunningham Bullock, aged 20 years, and Bryce Acton Thompson, aged 26, were each fined £lO by Mr H. A. Young, S.M., today, on a charge of stealing petrol from the aerodrome. Bullock admitted stealing three gallons and Thompson two gallons.

Prosecuting, Detective-Sergeant McClung said a shortage of eighteen gallons taken from planes had been discovered and Bullock, on being interviewed, said he had fotmd petrol in a tin in a corner of the hangar. Thompson said he found petrol in a tin, in an abandoned motor-car on a junk heap at the aerodrome. - Detective-Sergeant CcClung said the Air Force regarded the offences as serious. Recently a plane had been forced down for want of petrol and the mechanic responsible for the machine’s tank swore at a subsequent court-martial and still swore that he filled the tank. That man suffered fourteen days’ detention. It was not suggested that the two accused had anything to do with that but the offence was looked upon as serious. In imposing the fines the magistrate said that further offenders would run the risk of imprisonment without the option of a fine.