FIRST PROSECUTIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 67, 22 March 1943, Page 2

FIRST PROSECUTIONS

SHORT-CHANGING DOLLARS FOR SERVICEMEN (P.A.) Wellington, March 19. Because of many complaints macle to the Reserve Bank of servicemen not being given the full value of tne American dollar, namely. 6s Id, the co-operation of the police was sought, and to-day the first prosecutions under the Finance Emergency Regulations were brought in the Magistrate’s Court. Two employees were each fined £5 and costs and the two principals were convicted and ordered to pay costs. Mr. A. N. Goulding. S.M., said if the practice of short-charging continued persons could expect to be fined very heavily, and in the case of a second offence they might even be sent to prison. Defendants were a cafe proprietor and his employee and a hotel licensee and a barmaid. The magistrate. remarking that these were the first prosecutions of the kind, said deliberate violation of the regulations would involve culprits in very serious penalties indeed. In the present cases the short change was only a penny in each dollar, but most of the cases were the same. If he were satisfied that there had been any deliberate attempt by defendants lo make a profit he would have imposed a very serious penalty.