FARMERS FINED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 137, 26 June 1937, Page 3

FARMERS FINED

Footballers Travel By Lorry. WAIPUKURAU, June 25, . A caso involving the carriage of a foothall team in which the Transpori Department proceeded against George Forbes McHardy, sheep-faTmer, of Omakere, for using a heavy motor-vehicle for carrying passeiigers before a certificate of fitness had been obtained for it, occupied a conSiderable amount of time itL the hlagistrate's Court this morning. Mr. J. Miller, S.M.,/presided. ' Traffic Inspector Semple appeared for the Transport Department and Mr. C. G. Harker for the defehdant. The inspector descirbed how he had seen the lorry being driven on the maia highway south of Waipukurau by Thomas Barnes. He stopptid the vehiele and found a number of passengers on board. He asked the driver what the positiop was in regard to the passengers. The driver said that .they wero a football team going to Takapau to lake part in a match, and, as the owner was interested in the team, he was allowiug them to use his lorry firee of charge. At this point one of tho passengers, BirdsalJ^ volunteered the information that "they were only paying for the benzine." Asked how thy were paying, he said they were paying ls a head arid eleven bf them admitted having paid ls each. Johu Henry Birdsall, shepherd, in evidenee, said he recalled the stopping of the lorry by the inspector, and iii reply to the inspector as to whether there was any charge being made Birdsall had said, "that a voluntary contribution was made by Ihe individnals. ' ' To Ihe Bencb: Some gave ls and some rlid not pa y. There were liftcen going and about 20 coming bac'k. I collected a total of 15s Od on Ihe trip. George Forbes McHardy, sheep-* farmcr, of Omakere, said he was a vice president of the Omakere Football Club; and ha had offercd to asist the club. by providing a vehiele. If someone had not provided a vehiele tho team could not have got to the comgetitions. McHardy was convicted and ordered. to pay eostj, 17%