GAS FOR NOTHING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1931, Page 8

GAS FOR NOTHING

I MPR ISONMENT'FOR METER TRICKSTER. CHRISTCHURCH, December 23. For manipulating a gas,meter sp that he was'able to procure gas lor heating and cooking without the necessity for placing a" shilling in the slot, Raymond Edward Kirk, a young married man residing at New Brighton, was sen-' tenced to seven days” imprisonment by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “Accused showed considerable ingenuity,” said the Magistrate.

Senior-Sergeant Fox said that the accused’s meter in Swan Street was read on September 29 and found to be correct. The next time it was read, on December 6, there was only one shilling in the meter, but 8900 feet of gas had beep used, to the value of £4 9s. An inspection of the meter‘showed that it had been interfered with, but accused could not obtain the gas with out the amohnt being registered on the meter. Accused, when interviewed, at first denied that he had interfered with the meter but later admitted it. Counsel said that accused was engaged on relief work only. He was a married man with one child and had been earning only 18s a week. The £4 9s had been paid to the Gas Company by a friend of the accused. “It is a question of a substantial fine or going to gaol for a short term,” said the Magistrate. Counsel said that accused could not pay a fine. “Fortunately we are comparatively free from thefts of this kind,” said the Magistrate. “Accused must meet'with a salutary punishment.