MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1944, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FORTNIGHTLY MASTERTON SITTING LIQUOR NEAR DANCE HALL FOUR DEFENDANTS FINED The fortnightly sitting of the Masterton Magistrate’s Court was held in Masterton today. Mr H. P. t Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. Rex Reginald Compton, Peter Robert Foreman, Frank James Menzies and Raymond Eric Foreman were charged with having consumed liqubr in the vicinity of a dance hall. Mr T. Cunningham appeared for the defendants and pleaded guilty. Senior Sergeant A. H. Barnes said the charge arose out of drinking in a car near a dance hall in Chapel Street. The defendants were each fined £3 and 10s costs. Benjamin J. McKnight, racehorse owner and trainer, was charged with two breaches of the emergency transport regulations relating to the cartage of racehorses. Mr R. R. Burridge appeared for McKnight and pleaded guilty. Mr Lawry reserved his decision pending his finding on a reserved decision elsewhere regarding the validity of using petrol obtained by coupons. Eric Tomasi was fined 5s and 10s costs for having operated a motor vehicle without having a current warrant of fitness. Frank M. Morton was fined 10s and £1 5s 6d costs for having permitted a <pony to stray in the borough. Atu Mikaera was charged with having driven a motor vehicle without a current, driver’s licence. The information was dismissed. Tola Potangaroa (Mr. R. McKenzie) was charged with having operated an unauthorised passenger service between Waingawa and Te Ore Ore. Inspector W. G. Milne, of the Transport Department, said Potangaroa owned an old truck which was used by a party of Maoris travelling from Te Ore Ore to Waingawa. All the Maoris shared the expenses. The question of th.e safety of the pasesngers was involved. Mr. McKenzie submitted that an effort had been made to provide transport for key workers. The defendant was fined £2, with £2 6s costs.