MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1932, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

GREYMOUTH, July 19

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday th 6 business dealt with by Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., included the following:—

FALSE STATEMENT

Tho Inspector of Factories (Mr F. G. Davies) proceeded against Christopher Connell, for a breach of the 7 Unemployment Act, in that he made a false statement to an official, on / January 11. Defendant did not apear. A l ' Detective H. C. Muroh gave evidence of having interviewed defendant! De. fendant made a statement, in which he admitted having filled in a card at/ the Labour Office representing himftclf as a married man supporting h s wife at Greymouth. His wife was resident in Scotland and he was living with a single woman, whom h e wao supporting.

F, G. Davies, Inspector of Labour stated that defendant had received £9 Is 3d from the Unemploymenb Board, between January and March, < which was £4 bi 9d in excess of what he would have received, had he represented himself as a singl e man. A fine of £l, with coats iOs, was imposed, and defendant was ordered tc) refuiid thp sum of £4 6s 9d. Dangerous , driving alleged. •A charge fif dangerdhs driving was preferred against E. T. Malhdottuld, of Iteefton. Defendant pleaded'not guilty and was represented by Mr W. P. McCarthy. ! • Constable A, W, Honey; of Ahaura, stated that (he was at the Police Station, at Ahaura, on June 17, when his attention was attracted by the. noise of a motor vehicle, being driven in the direction of ; Greymouth. He looked outside, and noticed defendant’s Buick car travelling at a speed of between 30 and 40 miles per hour. When turning the corner near the Post Office, the car swerved and gravel was thrown up on to Che. footpath. Had another 'car been approaching in the opposite direction, an accident could not have been avoided, The hood of the car was hanging over th 6 lefthand side, at (the. back, and it was raining heavily at the Itime. After reviewing the evidence, the Magistrate said he could arrive at no other conclusion, but that defendant had exceeded the regulation pace. He would be convicted and fined £2'on the charge of dangerous driving, with, costs 16s, and witness expenses £2 4s. On a charge pf, negligent driving he would be convicted and discharged, with costs. 16s, Fourteen. days, were . .allowed for payment. < l

UNLICENSED ’BUS SERVICES

The Traffic ..Inspector, Mi A. E. Sloss, for whofn Mr J. W. Hannan appeared, proceeded against .Leslie William Tippler, represented by Mr W,' P. McCarthy. . The information was brought under Section, 39 of tho Transport Licensing Act, 1931, Defendant was charged, with' using a passenger Service,- vehicle, . without first having a license. Mr Hannan mentioned that . th 6 maximum penalty was £IOO for the offence, but the Department did not- press, in this case for a heavy penalty. It was desired to bring under notice of unlicensed persons, that thos 6 holding .licenses had to pay heavy fees, and must , be protected. Mr Hannan pointed out that while the Department did not press for a heavy penalty, the maximum penalty was £IOO, and £lO for each day a service operated, after an application had been refused.

Th ,S.M. stated that it was the first case of its kind, and he would .impose a fine of £5, with cosbs 10s, and solicitor’s fee £2 2s. ... ' On a similar charge, James Wright (Mr W. P. McCarthy), who had conducted a passenger service, was fined £5, with costs 10s, and solicitor's fee £2 2s. CHARGE AGAINST ROTHERA. WIFE OBTAINS MAINTENANCE. An application for maintenance and guardianship of the five children, was brought by Isabella Rothera, for whom Mr T. F. Brosnan appeared. Mr J. W. Hannan, represented Kothera, and consented :to the order, ill terms of the application. 'Senior-Sergeant C. E. Roach said there were one or two matters which he desired the Court to keep in sight.' before finalising the application, He referred to the position 'that Rothera was found living with a young woman, and the police had not yet ascertained whether he had actually gone through a form' of marriage with this woman, Mr Hannan raised an objection to the Polie e introducing suoh a matter.. “I do not know what the Police have to do ;witb this case.’’ he said. ri *AßBrosnan is appearing for the wife oh this application.” The S.M.: Yes. this is merely ai: application fo.” maintenance and guardianship of the children. Mr Bi-Oisnan then asked for an order, and mentioned that no amount had been agreed upon .between the parties. t\lr Hannan : In the meantime, the only work available to Rothera is under the. unemployment scheme. Mr Brosnan’asked for the maximum amount of maintenance. The children ware all girls, whose ages ranged from two years, to fourteen years. Under the. circumstances he did not think it advisable to ask j tor security, as lie considered ii>. best to allow Rothera to work. ' The S.M. : And you could take proceedings if he is found not doing his best. Has he ally means?