MISUSE OF OIL FUEL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 223, 17 June 1944, Page 5

MISUSE OF OIL FUEL

“I have no doubt this was due to thoughtlessness, but considerable publicity has been given to the regulations aud there should be no doubt as to their meaning,’’ said Mr. Stilwell, SAL, in the .Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when imposing a line of £2O with costs, on Claudia Lillian Shand, medical practitioner, Wellington. who pleaded guilty to a charge of misuse of oil fuel. Detective-Sergeant Thompson said defendant bad used sonic of the petrol allocated to her in connexion with her practice on a trip to New Plymouth. For defendant, Mr, J. A. Scott said the purpose of the trip was to visit her husband in an air force camp. In the circumstances prevailing it was probable she could have obtained the extra fuel on application to the oil fuel controller. . On a similar charge. Frederick Sheffler, medjeal herbalist, Wellington, was flned £lO with costs. Detectlvc-Sojgeant Thompson said applicant had used some of the petrol issued him in connexion with his business to take bis car to Wanganui at Faster. Ho had been quite frank about the matter and had written a letter to the oil fuel controller explaining the circumstances. Defendant said the petrol had accrued, through his car being stolen and at the end of the month he had petrol supplies ou his hands and felt he was entitled to use it first because a much-needed holiday was overdue and also because he had some business to attend to in Wanganui. He thought it was made all right by writing to the oil fuel controller. He had also secured the opinion, of a constable. Who had remarked "that is a bit of a windfall.” Detective-Sergeant Thompson said the action had been taken on information from the oil fuel controller. The average constable could not be expected to be a “father confessor” to the whole of the community, remarked the magistrate.