UNUSUAL CASE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 5 February 1941, Page 5

UNUSUAL CASE

DENIAL MECHANIC FINED | BREACH OF DENTISTS’ ACT (Special to Times) MATAMATA, Tuesday There was an unusual prosecution in the Matamata Magistrate’s Court ; yesterday when Allan McKenna, of I Matamata, dental mechanic, pleaded ■ guilty to a breach of the Dentists’ | Act, 1936, in practising as a dentist, not being a registered dentist or holder of a practising certificate. Detective Moore, of Hamilton, who prosecuted, stated that this was the first complaint against the defendant although he had been carrying on business for a number of years. The defendant, though a qualified dental mechanic, was not under the Act entitled to take impressions for artificial dentures unless supervised or employed by a registered dentist. There was no suggestion that McKenna was not a qualified man in the particular work he did. The Act provided for a £IOO penalty for each offence. Mr B. W. Bell, who appeared for defendant, said that McKenna was a registered dental mechanic. At the time he started in business on his own account some years ago he had been disappointed in hopes of support he had been led to expect from registered dentists for whom he intended to work on a commission basis. He had therefore concentrated on repair work which he was quite entitled to do and for which he was well qualified. Later he had taken impressions for dentures mainly for personal friends, but he had not otherwise carried on the practice of a dentist. The technical breach of the Act had been rectified by McKenna, who had made arrangements with a registered dentist which would cover the requirements of the registration.

Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., imposed a fine of £2 and costs. Liquor For Maoris Harold Hairini, of Te Poi, a labourer, was fined £2 and costs £1 3s on a charge ol aiding and assisting in the supplying of liquor to natives. On a further charge of throwing glass bottles in Broadway Hairini was convicted and ordered to pay costs 15s. Constable Moore who prosecuted stated that on Christmas Eve Hairini had been observed crossing Broadway and on being accosted had taken two bottles of wine from his pockets and thrown them on the foot path. Fines For Mischief Ernest Smith, mill hand, and Albion Moon, hairdresser, of Matamata, were each fined £2 10s and costs on charges of mischief arising out of a recent incident when the Matamata night watchman discovered glass placed under the front wheels of his car and that damage had been done to the gear lever and a box at the rear of his car. Moon, who pleaded not guilty, said that he had had nothing to do with these incidents but admitted placing a potato in the exhaust of the car which back fired when the owner cranked it. This had been done as a joke. Don Stewart, Gordon Stewart and Cecil John Malam, labourers, of Matamata, each were fined 30s and 10s costs on a charge of disorderly behaviour in Broadway.