FINED £60.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 218, 13 September 1940, Page 8

FINED £60.

OIL FUEL BREACHES. "MADE WELTER OF IT." Fines totalling £60 were imposed on a Khvber Pass Road service station proprietor by Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M.. in the Police Court to-day for two breaches of the Oil Fuel Regulations. Defendant, Frank Stanley Thompson, who appeared on summons and was represented by Mr. King, admitted both charges. Senior Sergeant Joyce Thompson took over the service station on May 11 last. Between May and August Thompson had sold a total of 1100 gallons for which no couj>ons or licenses had been given. "He had reported to the detective office that petrol had been stolen, but, after inquiries had been made, he said petrol had not been stolen and that it had probably been sold,'' added the senior sergeant. ''This is regarded as a serious case, for even when detectives were making their inquiries he continued to sell benzine without licenses or coupons. These regulations are a war measure, and the Oil Fuel Controller considers this i» a case where the maximum penalty of £100 should be imposed." It was submitted by Mr. King that the case was not as serious as might appear. This was Thompson's first business venture, and he had invested all his capital in the business. Thompson did not know anything about bookkeeping. and lie had become muddled in his figures and accounts, which could not be reconciled by accountants. Since May he had been nhort-staffed, and had been working long hours—sometimes SO hours a week. Counsel said that tliQ records that were required to be kept were very intricate. However. Thompson had now engaged an accountant, who took out daily' balances of the petrol, cash coupons and licenses. Under these circumstances Mr. King asked the magistrate not to impose the maximum penalty."I can see no possible excuse for him at all," said Mr. Levien. "He lias just been making a welter of it. In view of the profits he must have made, and which I don't think he should keep, he will be fined £35 on the first charge and £25 on the second."