Failed To Account For 471lb. Of Butter

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1949, Page 3

Failed To Account For 471lb. Of Butter

AUCKLAND, May 6. Failure to account to the Rationing Controller for 4711bs. of butter led to Lennox Kinross Taylor being cliarged witli a breach of the Rationing Emergency Eegulations before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. Sub-Inspector Harrison said defendant, who did not appear, was the proprietor of a dairy and when a rationing inspector checked defendant's stocks on March 12 he found defendant was 471 lbs. short of butter. In explanation defendant told the Inspector that when the registration period ended and the coupon system started in October, 1948, he found he was over 4001bs. short. He then sent in false returns to try to cover up his errors and to give himself an chance to graduaily overtake the arrears. Counsel submitted that the arrears were reasonable and were not the result of any black- marketing. - ' ' 1 regard all oifenees under the rationing regulations seriously," said Mr. Luxford. "I cannot accept the stateinent that this was an innoceni mistake. Defendant tried to conceal his errors and in doing so only exposed hiniself to the expert eyes of the rulioning officers. He fined defendant £20 and costs.