OIL FUEL BREACH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 8

OIL FUEL BREACH.

GARAGE PROPRIETOR FINED. A breach of the Oil Fuel Regulations was admitted in the Police Court to-day by G. N. Norrie and Company, Ltd., for whom Mr. McLiver appeared. The company was charged with selling, between March IB and April 23, 40 gallons of motor spirit other than in accordance with the terms of a permit to sell issued by the. oil fuel controller. Sub-Inspector Calwell, who prosecuted, said that motor spirit had been sold to unauthorised persons, and that in one case 26 gallons had been debited to the license of a school teacher one month after she had left the district.

Mr. McLiver said Mr. Nome's garage was in the country, where most of the people operated on licenses and not coupons. Acting on the instructions of the school teacher for the purpose of keeping her license alive, he had entered benzine sold against her license. Many customers who had licenses were afraid that if they did not draw the full amount allowed by their license they would lose their quota. During the period mentioned in the charge about 3000 gallons of motor spirit had been sold. Out of this only 40 gallons could not be accounted for. The profit on the sale was only 10/—a paltry amount. •' My client supplied benzine- to one customer who was taking an injured person to hospital, and in another to a man who was taking his wife to a maternity hospital, while on several occasions he has supplied petrol to soldieis who have been out of motor spirit and wished to return to camp,'' added Mr. McLiver. The offence was committed in March, long before warnings had been issued by magistrates concerning these offences.

Mr. J. Morling, S.M., imposed a fine of £7 and costs.