FISH HAWKING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 4

FISH HAWKING.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —As a subscriber to your valuable paper, I would like to call your attention to the report of the Magistrate's Court last Friday, as published in Saturday morning s paper, which says I was fined 10s and costs for allowing my son to hawk without a license, but it does not say that I wished to appeal against the magistrate's decision, as in my argument a fortnight previous, I called Mr Bailey's attention to the statute law of New Zealand, which reads': "Notwithstanding anything in this Act, or .any by-law made by any Borough Council or Town Board, it shall be lawful for-any fisherman or anyone appointed by them to sell newlycaught fish (except shell) by auction, or in any manner customary to the fish trade, either to hawk or carry for retail to any private house for sale without taking out a license either as a. hawker or auctioneer." I have been in the fish trade nine years seven months, and have always applied for a license from the City Council, but did not know I was breaking any by-law when I sent my boy out to sell newly-caught fi.a, he being "under the age to be granted a license, and he also being under my charge until he was sixteen: I thought at the time my license was sufficient. Now, by the law of the country I do not need a license to hawk, or sell, fresh whitebait. Magistrate Bailey says "Yes you do; you are fined 10s and costs," or 48 hours, for breaking a by-law of the City Council." And I am a poor man, that cannot put up £10, which is the fee to take it to a higher court, I believe. I shall be glad if you can get mc the truth of whether I was breaking the law of the country or not by employing my own son in the business'that I have been engaged in tho last nine years, and oblige.—Yours, etC '' FRED. HERN. * November 26th. [We'are sorry; but we could not undertake to give legal advice.—Ed. "The Press."fJ