APIARISTS IN COURT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 3

APIARISTS IN COURT

Failed To Supply Honey To Department

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 6. That the Court was not concerned with the wisdom or otherwise of Parliament in the making of laws, but only with seeing that the laws were enforced, was made clear by Air. F. F. Reid, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, when convicting 'and ordering seven Canterbury apiarists to pay costs for breaches of the honey emergency regulations, 1942. A. Barrett and AA r . B. Bray, Leeston, H. A. Buseh, Hftrnby, AV. B. Frampton, Eiffelton, T. F. Primrose, Leeston, and Al. A. Shepherd and C. Hill, of Rangiora, trading as Shepherd and Hill, were charged that, on June 1, having been notified- by the Marketing Department that the honey produced in their apjaries during the 1942-43 season was required for the purposes of the department and having been given instructions by the department’with regard to the packing and delivery of the honey, they failed to comply with the instructions, contrary to the honey emergency regulations, 1942. Bush and Frampton were also charged with failing to furnish returns showing particulars as required by the regulations. Iu convicting and ordering defendants to pay costs, the magistrate said he was prepared to accept the view that defendants were smarting under .what they believed to be a definite injustice to their industry and that they honestly believed the regulations were ultra vires. At the -same time, while he was dealing leniently with defendants ou this occasion, he wished to make it quite clear that the duty of the |Court was to administer the law and not to make it. If any section of primary producers continued to flout the law, the Court would impose increasing penalties.