USED FARM PETROL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32300, 16 August 1943, Page 5

USED FARM PETROL

TRIP MADE TO TAIHAPE SEQUEL HEARD IN COURT SHAREMILKER FINED £l5 ■Charges of driving a car while not holding a driver’s licence and of using oil fuel which had been granted for use in a milking machine engine'and. for pumping water supplies on to a farm, were preferred against Thomas Henry Carmichael in the Te Aroha Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last. Defendant was not present but wrote in from a military camp. The police were called upon by His Worship, Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., to prove the case. Police Statement The statement, which was corroborated by evidence of witnesses, was that defendant was a sharemilker on the property of Mr F. Magee, and part of the terms of his contract was that he supplied necessary oil fuel and motor spirits for milking and pumping water. On July 1, 1942, he made application and was granted petrol and oil fuel covering for these purposes. On March 2, 1943, 12 gallons of motor spirit was delivered to the farm, and. on the 6th. 32 gallons, making a total of 44 gallons for the month. Defendant signed the form. Gone For Trip On March 18, Mr Magee visited the farm and found defendant not at home and the herd of 75 cows in the care of defendant’s sister and a youth. He was told that defendant had gone to Taihape in his car. He had a private car for which he was allowed four gallons of petrol a month. An inspection of the petrol drum and tank on the milking* engine revealed that there was only sufficient petriol for several milkings. Mr Magee made a special application and was granted an emergency supply of petrol. “900 Miles On Four Gallons” When defendant returned from his trip he was interviewed by the police and stated that there had been 15 gallons of petrol in the drum when he left. He had not taken it but had run his car on four gallons of benzine which he had mixed with kerosene, making it up to ten gallons. Mileage readings on the car, which had been recently bought and was checkable by the statement of the previous owner, indicated that defendant had travelled over 900 miles. Furthermore, he. had not taken delivery of the four 'gallons to which he was entitled 1 for his private car. Evidence was given by Mr F. Magee and Mr R. Ingham, Deputy Oil Fuel Controller. For failing to hold a driver’s licence Carmichael was fined 10s and costs, and for the wrongful use of benzine he was fined £l5 with costs £1 2s.