INDISCREET LETTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 99, 2 September 1942, Page 5

INDISCREET LETTERS

FIRST LOCAL PROSECUTION BREiACII OF CENSORSHIP The first prosecution of its kind to be dealt with before a local' Court under the Censorship Regulations took place before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., yesterdiay when an elderly lady living at Ohope who has two sons sierving overseas was chiarged. Mir T. E. Hamerton defended. Sergeant Parrel 1 stated tlie defeiv ' dant had been anxious to allay her sons fears about the security of New Zealand and as she had heard of a number of troop movements in- this country had sent forward this information with a slight misspelling of one word. The prosecution realised that there was no thought, of disloyalty, but „ had instituted . the proceedings as a learning. Mr Hamerton reiterated that the - defendant had merely sought to inform her sons that they need not have any .fears for her own safely 7 ; and had written what she consid'ered an innocent passage in her letter relative to defence. She deeply regretted her action if it. was lookved upon as dangerous. The Magistrate stated that although the offence came under a very serious heading, he did not think the present case could be .<■ classed as such and it. would not • there lore Avar rant a heavy penalty. .'A fine of SI and costs on each of Uwo charges was imposed.