DEPARTMENT’S POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 4

DEPARTMENT’S POLICY

CONDEMNED TARPAULINS The policy of the Railways Department with regard to condemned tarpaulins was explained by Mr. P. JI. Curtis, assistant traffic manager, Wanganui, when two persons were charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with unlawfully having a railway tarpaulin, valued at £8 10s 6d in their possession. Mr. Curtis, in reply to Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., said that at one time condemned tarpaulins were marked with distinct white croses and sold. No sales had been fnade since October, 1935, however, and all tarpaulins not required by the department were handed over to the military authorities. These sheets, however, were cut in pieces. They could not be confused with tarpaulins in use by the department. At one stage the sheets were numbered, but this policy was discontinued some years ago. A warning that persons who were in unlawful possession of Government tarpaulins were liable to a penalty under a special section of the Railways Act was given by the magistrate, when imposing a fine of £1 on one defendant, and dismissing the charge against the other defendant. "It behoves every person who is offered a tarpaulin to see that it is not Government property, otherwise he may be liable to a penalty,” the magistrate added.