QUESTION OF TERMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 282, 17 August 1918, Page 3

QUESTION OF TERMS

OBSTRUCTING AN INSPECTOR. A oase of an unusual nature wds heard by' Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, when A. Goodwill, of 4 Farish Street, was prosecuted by the Inspector of Factories, Frederick Wilson, on an information of refusing to allow an inspector to enter his office for inspection on July 19. Mr. H. F. O'Leary appeared for the defendant. Evidence was given by Inspector 1. Wilson that -when he went to defendant's, premises, & Farish Street, he stated to Goodwill that he was an inspector of factories, and wished to see what heaters defendant had for tno ollice staff. Defendant immediately shouted in a loud voice, "This is not a factory, and I will have no inspector in my office. ■ It is my private office, and you get out." Defendant then shouldered witness out of the premises, and when he got him out he shouted, "Now you're out, you ciin keep out. You are not coming into my office, no matter what inspector you nre." Witness replied that he would soon show him whether or.not he had a right to enter, and went and brought a constable. Defendant again refused to let him enter, but finally he said, "You can have a look." Witness noticed a girl in the office. Mr. O'Leary: What do you class his premises as—a factory or a shop?—"He ir> an engineer nnd oil merchant. The portion where the girl works is an office." Did you go on these premises as an inspeotor of factories or an inspector of offices?—"As an inspector of factories. There is no such appointment as an inspector of offices." Mr. O'Lenry: At the present time the position is misleading, and you go into an office which has not the semblance of a factory, and say you are an inspector of factories; lam going to suggest that such a position as inspector of offices bo -created. "'lnspector' means 'inspector of factoriee,'" remarked Inspector Wilson. "If people don't know what au inspector is tney should ask. Under the Shops and Offices Act the term 'inspector' means 'inspector of factories.'" "Apparently, defendant has committed an offence under the Shops and Offices Act," said Mr. O'Leary. "The sooner the iuspectqr is armed with some authority, or introduces himself as an 'inspector of offices,' the iws trouble nnd confusion will there be. It is very misleading that the term 'inspector' under the Sliops and Offices Act should also nienn 'inspector of factories.' One can understand busy. peiiple being under a misapprehension." ■■ Defendant denied. Unit lie pushed the inspector out of las^office. "Evidently thw'niiMi looked on Ilic inspector as othca- people look on microbes," remarked His. Worship. "There is no- doubt that Ihe inspector was obstructed, and that the defendant put him out." Defendant was fined £2, with coste Ss.