IMPROPERLY SECURED PETROL SUPPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 5

IMPROPERLY SECURED PETROL SUPPLY

UNION PRESIDENT FINED PENALTIES ALSO ON GARAGE AND EMPLOYEE (P.A.) Wellington, Nov. 16. Sydney Giles, president of the Wellington and District Freezing Workers’ Union, pleaded guilty to a charge of purchasing or agreeing to purchase 204 gallons of petrol, contrary to the regulations, and was lined £l5O by Mr. Goulding, S.M. Jamieson's Garage Limited was lined £lO lor making false statements to the Oil Fuel Controller, with regard to 418 gallons of fuel, and convicted and discharged for selling or agreeing to sell that amount, contrary to the regulations. Charles Victor Jackson, an employee of the garage, was fined £4O lor making false statements to the Oil Fuel Controller, and convicted and discharged for selling or agreeing to sell 204 gallons, contrary to the regulations.

Detective-Sergeant E. H. Compton said inquiries had revealed discrepancies in schedules returned by the company, and it was found that 418 gallons had been unlawfully supplied between August, 1944, and June, 1945, but the police had no evidence to show that the company knew what was going on. Jackson had frankly admitted making false entries at the request of licence holders. Giles had been entitled to draw 540 gallons during the period stated, but had overdrawn by 204 gallons. In defence of Jackson, it was stated that there was no black marketing. The money had been paid into ths firm's till, and mu th of the petrol wa, sunnlied to soldiers. For Giles, it was stated that special licences had been granted to him in connection with his duties as president of the Freezing Workers’ Union, and defendant had to take the responsibility of sharing in a practice that was not confined to him. "The silly nart is that he had only to apply on behalf of the union for extra gallonage and it would have been granted.” The magistrate said there was no evidence of black marketing, but those who got more than they were entitled could dispose of it and lead to a form of black marketing. There was no evidence of that, but it was a serious asoect ot the case. Gdes was beyond understanding; he was a renrcsentative of a union and a responsible man.