A NET IN PAWN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 26, 25 October 1919, Page 7

A NET IN PAWN

PROSECUTION UNDER REPATRIATION REGULATIONS. y Br Teleiranh—Press Anoclatlon. Auckland, October 24.A Rarotongan named Harry Kelly, a ■leturnod soldier, was brought before Mr. Wilson, S.M., to-day at the instance of. the Auckland Repatriation Board on a charge that lie had pawned without authority a fishing net which had been purchased for him by the board by .way of financial assistance. Mr. Selwyn, Mays, who appeared for the Department, stated that the prosecution was brought under the regulations of tho Repatriation Act, and was instituted as a warning to returned soldiers that they could not disposo of chattels bought for their use by a repatriation board unless with the written consent of the board or of the repatriation officer. Accused lvelly and another returned soldier, who was a native, had been .supplied by tho repatriation Board with a. launch bought for -them at a cost. of £245, and with fishing nets and gear valued at .£55. Until the. purchase of that gear for them, they received as assistance about .62 10?. per week.' Tho nets were delivered to Kelly on September 29, when he signed for them. Ho took them to li,is. boat, and next day ho called on a pawnbroker and wanted to sell a net to him. Tho pawnbroker declined to buy, but offered to '.end .EG on tho net, and his olfer was accepted. Subsequently, Kelly's mate went to the repatriation officer with a pawn ticket, and the present action v<as taken a« a warning to returned Aoldiors. A penalty was not presse.l for. Mr. Rpnnie, for the defendaut, said that Kellv was a Rarotongan, and he honestly did not know lie was doing a wrong. He only thought he was liable for tlie money spent on tho ret. Both lie and his mate wanted money at the time for food, and they pledged . the net. They later went to redeem the net, but the pawnbroker refused to return it until the repatriation officer was notified, and Kelly's mate went then to the repatriation offiSer, who kept tho ticket. _ , . Mr. May stated that the full effect of doalinu in any way with tho launoh or, gear without written permission had been fully explained to both Kelly and his mate. His Worship said that as tho oase was brought merely as a. warning he would only ordor a'pnvnient of .£3 and costs, and, further, order the defendants to redeem tho net forthwith.