PROSECUTION FAILS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 66, 21 April 1944, Page 5

PROSECUTION FAILS

NOXIOUS WEEDS ACTION

REASONABLE EFFORT MADE

"I'm going to dismiss the information against the defendant," said Mr E. L. Walton., S.M., at the Whakatane Magistrate's* Court sitting last Tuesday when William B. Soutar was charged with failure to clear his land of blackberry within a prescribed period. "I think," continued! His Worship, "that he has madte a reasonable effort to cope with the blackberry and I dismiss the charge on the understanding that he continues to eradicate it as

he has done in the pas*."

Defendant. who pleaded not guilty claimed that he had taken, over one of the roughest farm .sections on the Rangi-taiki five years ago. Since then he had of the 580 acres, broken in the worst patch of 40 acres and put in a crop of maize. He had spoken to the Inspector and undertaken to do his best. Sixty acres had been, crushed and rolled, and later cut up with the giant discs in readiness for burning. An attempt to burn had also been made but these, efforts had. been hampered by the. floods.

The inspector stated that he had extended the period for clearance at defendant's request, but he. had not carried out his undertaking and although some had been crushed and partially burnt, the fencelines and drains had been untouched.

The Magistrate remarked as above

Bookmakers) Liable

"We have taken similar action," said the District Manpower Officer (Mr M. Ross) in Christchurch Avhen asked whether it was the policy of the department, to direct into essential work persons who had been convicted in the courts of bookmaking. Mr Ross said that the direction of people not fully employed did not apply to bookmakers alone. Any man within the direction age was called in for interview and directed accordingly if the. circumstances warranted it. Whether a man was a bookmaker or not, the decision depended on the evidence produced— mostly medical evidence. Many bookmakers, he said, were engaged full time in legitimate business, but still managed to find time to take a few bets.

Preference to Servicemen

The New Zealand 11.5.A. has been advised by the Minister of Rehabilitation, Major Skinner, that the policy of the Waterfront Control Commission regarding applications for employment on the waterfront is that special- consideration! should be given to applications from exservicemen and that waterfront controllers have been informed accordingly. The Minister added that he understood that a similar principle is applied in connection with applications to join the Tally Clerk's Union. The Minister also advised the association that the ma;tter oif according preferential treatment of returned servicemen and women in respect of applications for licenses or transfer of licenses has. been considered by the Rehabilitation Board, and is under action*.