SECRETARY FINED

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22659, 12 July 1945, Page 4

SECRETARY FINED

CENSORSHIP BREACH EFFORT TO AVOID “RED TAPE” “He wished to avoid the ‘red tape’ and delay that were necessary under the Finance Emergency Regulations,” said Mr A. L. Tompkins, in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, today when George Audley Johnston Acres, secretary, of Hamilton, was charged before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., with attempting to evade the censorship. The charge alleged that on January 9, 1944, defendant posted a 1 itter adressed to Mrs S. McNeill, care of the C.P.0., Auckland, in which were enclosed correspondence and letters addressed to persons in England for carriage to England otherwise than through the post office with intent to evade the effective censorship. The prosecution was conducted by Senior-Detective W. R. Murray. Defendant pleaded guilty. “Eighteen months ago the defendant received a communication from the Reserve Bank requesting him to declare his financial interests and holdings overseas,” said Mr Murray. “Apparently he resented the attitude of the Reserve Bank. In connection with the present charge he posted an envelope addressed to an addressee care of the Auckland post office. It contained various letters and correspondence.” The woman to whom it was addressed was expected to give it to another woman who was travelling to England the following day, continued Mr Murray. However, the letter was not lifted and eventually was returned to the dead letter office, as a result of which it came to the authorities’ notice. * Defendant’s Alleged Aim It was alleged, continued the senior-detective, that the defendant’s aim was to avoid the matter coming under the notice of the Reserve Bank. It could come under notice only through the censorship. It was an intent to evade the Finance Emergency Regulations and, incidentally, the censorship regulations. “Defendant has hitherto been a citizen of good repute and character,” said Mr Murray.

“Defendant’s simple and sole motive was to make a few small disbursements in England,” said Mr Tompkins. He wished to avoid the delay caused by being required to secure the Reserve Bank’s consent to every transaction out of New Zealand. Among the contents were a cheque for 18s for a book club and a cheque to his mother in England. The offence had really nothing to do with evasion of the censorship. The sole purpose was to avoid the trouble in getting the Reserve Bank’s consent. He had the chance of sending 1 the letter more quickly. ( “However, the scheme miscarried,” continued Mr Tompkins. “The lady never called for the letter, which was finally opened by the dead letter office and I doubt very much whether [ the dead letter office had -power to ! open the inner packages. Use of the internal censorship was made in opening the letters contained inside.” Comment by Magistrate I The Magistrate remarked that the dead letter office was justified in I opening the inner letters it was seen they were addressed to Englaand. “It may be quite true that the Finance Emergency Regulations and the censorship regulations do engender a feeling of resentment among some members of the community,” he added, “but they must remember the regulations affect everyone and are | very necessary in time of war. It does not matter that the things involved may not be very large. If it is possible to do it in small matters, it is possible to do it in big matters. It is every loyal citizen’s duty to comply with these regulations, which affect the whole finance and wellbeing of the country.” The Magistrate imposed a fine of £ls.