A SERIOUS OFFENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14889, 31 January 1914, Page 14

A SERIOUS OFFENCE.

.■♦ : . I TAKING SMOKING MATERIALS ! INTO A GOAL MINE. (rKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, January 30. At the Kaitangata Magistrate's Court to-day, three men employed at the Kaitangata Coal Mme —a trucker and two miners—were charged with taking smoking materiuls into a prohibited part of the mine, in face of the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1908. The men were D. Bennie. A. Wilson, and L. Billett. Bennie und Wilson, who had been caught with cigarette papers and tobacco in their possession, both pleaded guilty, and were each fined £3, with costs' .C 2 9s. Billett, who did not appear, was fined the maximum penalty of £10, with costs £3 10s. The Magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) commented seveiely on the seriousness of the offences, more particularly in the case of Billett who carried lucifer matches into the mine after having been warned aga : nst the practice two days previously. He characterised it as a crime for which a penalty of £10 was. inadequate and . whWi should be punished with a term of imprisonment.