OPOSSUM SKINS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1933, Page 3

OPOSSUM SKINS

CHARGE OF POSSESSION,

LEGAL POINT RAISED

NELSON, October 10

A charge of being found illegally in possession of 116 opossum skills w-’-s preferred against Leonard A. Turner, who appeared before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., in the Nelson Magistrate's Court to-day. Defendant was represented bv Mr J. R. Kerr. ■Defendant, who entered the witness box, said the skir.s were trapped 'by him prior to August 31, on lii.s brother’s property. He disposed of the skins on August 31, and when the poLcc commenced investigations the sk Ins were out of his possession. genior-Serjgeani Stark said defendant had made a statement to the •police in which he had admitted he did not hold a license, and that he captured the opossums in the Cpoipi (Valley by means of traps. He had wondered how to get rid of the skins, ■and decided to get another man to take them to a wool and ski.ii company t'O dispose of them in the other man’s name.

The senior. Serge nt said he would press for a .very heavy penalty. The maximum penalty was a £lO fine for the first skin and £5 for every other skin. In this c-ase that would make the penalty £735. The sk’ns had been paid for by the buyer and the money disposed of by defendant.

Mr Kerr maintained that no evidence h’d been produced to say defendant had been found in possoss.'o'o of the skins, as was required by the regulations. He claimed that the maximum fine was £lO. The regulation of the Protection of Animals Act under which the charge was made was, “All

opossums or opossum skins in the possession of any ner.son shall, on demand by any constable, officer ,of an acclimatisation .society, ranger or authorised officer, be produced for inspection, and arv person illegally in ’.possession ©f opossums or opossum skins is. liable on conviction to a fine c*f £lO, and to a further fine of £5 for each opossum skin found in his possession.” ; l The magistrate sa d it was a most clumsily-worded regulation. •Senior-Sergemt Stark said the skins vAre' “found” .in defendant’s iposse-s----giox on August 31 but this was not admitted" by the defence.

■ The magistrate sa’d he wished to he satisfied by whom the skins "b" 4 t* b° found in the possession of defendant for' that part' (if the regulation to abply. “It is a clumsily-worded regulation,” .he added. “.end it looks as if I h'vc to interpret it at my own risk.” Decision v Pserv°d for a week.