RATIONING OFFENCES REGARDED AS SERIOUS BY MAGISTRATE

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 May 1949, Page 6

RATIONING OFFENCES REGARDED AS SERIOUS BY MAGISTRATE

AUCKLAND, Last Night (PA).— Failure to account to the rationing controller for 4711bs of butter led to Kinross Taylor being charged with a breach of the Rationing Emergency Regulations before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M.

Sub-Inspector Harrison said the defendant, who did not appear, was the proprietor of a dairy and when the rationing inspector checked defendant's stocks on March 2, he found that defendant was 4711bs short of butter. In explanation defendant told the inspector that when the registration period ended and the coupon system started in October, 1948, he found he was over z oolbs short. He then sent in false returns to try and cover up the errors, and to give himself a chance to gradually overtake arrears. Counsel submitted that the arrears were reasonable and were not the result of any black marketing.

“I regard all offences under the Rationing Regulations seriously,” said Mr. Luxford. “I cannot accept the statement that this was an innocent mistake. Defendant tried to conceal his errors and in doing so only exposed himself to the expert eyes of the rationing officers. He fined the defendant £2O and costs.