RATIONED GOODS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 98, 11 August 1944, Page 5

RATIONED GOODS

FAILURE TO PRODUCE COUPONS LOCAL FIRM - PROSECUTED Charged with permitting the, sale of a pair of sandshoes without demanding the necessary coupons in accordance, with the regulations, the Para Rubber Company (Mr B. S. Barry) pleaded guilty in the Wha■katane Court last Tuesday before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M. Sergeant Farrell stated that tho offence came under the rationing regulations and was the result of a visit to the company's. local branch by the Departmental Inspector. The sandshoes had been handed over and oao coupons asked for. It was not insinuated that the company was in the habit of making such sales, as a check-up by the police had shown that previous transactions had been properly conducted. This Avas the first time the company had been prosecuted for an offence of any nature, said Mr Barry defending. He explained that the manager, Avho spent most of liis time iin the A'ulcanising department at the rear of the shop, had, just prior to the A'isit of the Inspector been depriA'ed of the services of his shop assistant. He Avas therefore required to spread his interests OA*er the shop, bringing a double responsibility ii\ a very limited time. When the Inspector called, lie Ava engaged on a vulcanising job Avhich he Avas hi a fliurry to return to. The, official asked for sandshoes after talking generally on. a number of topics. These Avere handed over as the Inspector tendered the monej 7 , and the manager, not being used to service in the shop, had overlooked asking for the coupons. There Avere only t\A-o coupon line,s carried by the establishment, and counsel claimed that the defendant had actually been trapped into committing the offence. British IaAV did not look Avith favour upon a, deliberate trap. Under the regulations, a customer. When purchasing rationed goods Avas required to produce his coupons as ■a reminder to the dealer. The inspector in this instance, made no attempt to do so. Fined £2 and costs 10s.