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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 14 May 1942, Page 3

SENT TO GAOL

SELLERS OF ILLEGAL PETROL FINES FOR PURCHASERS (P.A.) Wellington, May 13. ‘imprisonment with Hard labour was imposed by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court today upon Charles Norman Young and Thomas Irvine Bell, partners of the firm of Young and Bell, Ltd., service station proprietors, for offences connected with the illegal sale of petrol. Young was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and Bell to six weeks' imprisonment. A number ol other people were lined for illegally buying petrol from the firm. It was stated that the petrol came from a secret tank contain- j ing more than 400 gallons which the defendants had held since the time of the Centennial Exhibition and the existence of which was unknown to the Oil Fuel Controller. “Before imposing penalties,” said the magistrate, "1 think it is appropriate that 1 should state now that it is increasingly evident that rationing is likely to be extended to other goods and commodities, and 1 consider it is essential that any attempts to foster a ’black market’ in New Zealand should be promptly crushed and the only way to do this is, in my opinion, to inflict such penalties that will noli only punish the present offenders bull will also be of sufficient severity to prevent others from following their example.” Holding that William Haroid Davis had resold at 6s a gallon petrol obtained from the service station, the magistrate sentenced him to one month's imprisonment with hard labour for unlawfully selling petrol, to which he pleaded not guilty, and fined him £l5 on each of two charges of the unauthorised purchase of petrol and £5 on each of two charges of failing to give information about the petrol, to all of which he pleaded guilty. The following defendants, who had either pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of the unuauthorised purchase of petrol, were fined the amounts shown: -Herbert Henry Ambridge, £lO bn each of two charges; Loeta. Constance Farmer. £10; Albert John Harvey, £10; Frank Howard James, £10; Joseph Cohen. £10; Victor David, £l5 on one charge and £5 on another; Clifford Downes, £10; Robert Thomas Hill. £lO on one charge and £5 on each ol four others; Mina Annie Kerr and Mavis Lenore Nedwell Chamberlain, jointly charged, £2 10s each; Duncan Robertson Menzies, £10; Kelvin Hula Clemett, £5; Harold Wilson Morgan. £l5: Stanley Moffitt Morgan, £l5; James Robert Morris, £l5 on each oi two charges; Godfrey Frederick Powell. £10; Bernard Leonard Shepherd, £2 10s; Cho Nam Wong, £l5: Sidnev George Nathan. £2O: John Herbert Francis. £lO on one charge and , convicted and discharged on another; Lucy Noad. £10; George Benny . £l5. j Roy Cecil Temple was fined £lO for . improperly using petrol, and Herbert James Ransom was convicted and discharged for aiding and abetting him and for making a false statement to , obtain petrol. In yesterday's report of charges under the Oil' Fuel Regulations the . names of Frederick Thomas Shepperd. ‘ William Rimu Woods. Douglas Ross ‘ Harlen and Walter Campbell White ‘ were included among those who had < been convicted. This was incorrect. ; The charges against those defendants • were dismissed.