FAILING TO ENROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 141, 13 August 1941, Page 5

FAILING TO ENROL

OFFENDERS BEFORE COURT

FINES IMPOSED BY MAGISTRATE

Several men of the Whakatane district eligible for registration in the First Dilvision, but who had omitte'dl to enrol appeared l at the local Court before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., yesterday and! in each case a fine was imposed l . Penalties were also imposed on

employers'.

Was Out of Work.

Joseph Ivan Logan McShane pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to enrol, Sergeant M. Farrell stating that the offender, who was 28 years of age, had stated his reason as. that he was out of work and did not cr<-> rol as he did not wish to reveal that his levies were unpaid. As soon as he had obtained employment he had

registered.

Mr B. S. Barry appeared for the defendant and stated that McSharo had been under the impression in the first place that when furnishing Social Security returns he had automatically fulfilled his obligation. Counsel continued that the man aid not come from a shirking family, having two brothers serving, one of .whom was wounded in Crete. The defendant had stayed at home to look after his sister and as soon a/s he had gained employment had, as the Sergeant stated, complied with the regulations.

Continuing Mr Barry stated thai McShane had been drawn in the last ballot and at the present time was the only man available to work on the baker's round.

Stating that the offence was a serious one, the Magistrate imposed a line of £10 with costs 10s.

Employer Penalised

The employer of McShane, John Wm. Bishop, was also represented by Mr Barry, who entered a plea of guilty.

Sergeant Farrell stated that the defendant had had the reservist in his employ for twelve months. He had been told by his employee in February that enrolment had been effected. Later he had agaLn made enquiries and received the same reply.

Counsel stated that in all three enquiries had been made.

Stating that evidently the employer had made some effort, but not sufficient the Magistrate imposed a fine of £3 with costs 14s.