CUTLERY DAMAGED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 64, 13 April 1945, Page 5

CUTLERY DAMAGED

THREE MAORIS CHARGED FINKS AND GAOL TERM Two twisted spoons and 1 a bent fork, produced in the Whakatane Court during the bearing of a case on Wednesday concerning mischief, cost two local Dick Wahapango Kingi and Peter Te a fine of £3 each and a third f Ira Watene, j one month of his liberty. Messrs C. H. Christensen and J. King were on the Bench. The three young men concerned were jointly charged' with that on April 10 they did wilfully damage two teaspoons and a fork, of a total value of Bs, the property of the Central Grills Restaurant, Whakatane, thereby committing mischief. All three pleaded guilty to damaging the fork, and not guilty concerning the spoons. In Phyllis Florence MacDonald, a waitress employed at the Central Grill Room, stated that she had received previous instructions from her employer to the effect that no cutlery which- was in a damaged condition was to be placed on the tables. Accordingly the spoons and fork in question had been in good condition when placed before the accused. William James Williamson Man--9 ager of Central Grills, stated that he had given the waitress instructions to pay particular attention to anything missing from or damaged on the tables. On the date in question she drew his attention to the damaged cutlery which had been left on the table vacated by the three Maoris. The damage was reported immediately to the police in the hope that perhaps something might be done to check the practice which was becoming quite common. The shortage of cutlery and the expense involved made it difficult to replace. In fining and sentencing accused, the Bench stated that it fully realised the difficulty in replacing cutlery damaged in this manner. Besides that the committing of mischief was a serious offence.

In lining Kingi ancl Te Mona 5 the Bench also ordered them to pay 7/4 each restitution and costs.