LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the Magistrate's Court by Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., yesterday in the following undefended civil action: — N. R. McMurtry and Co„ Ltd. v. Basil Bishell, £37 15s 3d, with £4 2s 6d costs. The value of used tooth paste tubes was stressed by members of the Southland Provincial Council for the Reclamation of Waste at a recent meeting. It was mentioned that 2s 2d a pound was paid for these tubes, and that no doubt more people would assist In saving them if their value was generally realised. " I am happy to be able to tell you there are fewer cases than' usual for your consideration, " said Mr Justice Fair, addressing the grand jury at the opening of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, Auckland, yesterday. "There are 14 charges against 16 persons and the charges are less serious than usual. The average at the quarterly sessions in Auckland is over 20." — P.A.

Last week 96 towns attained their National Savings quotas and many others came very close to that achievement. Provincial centres that were successful were Invercargill, New Plymouth, Thames, Timaru, Wanganui and Wellington. Additions to thq list of places attaining the half-century mark in quota attainments are Waikari, Norsewood, Dannevirke, Pongaroa and Wanganui. The problem of road maintenance in North Auckland is becoming very acute, according to a statement presented to the Whangarei County Council by its engineer. The Minister for Defence advised the council at its last meeting that a report on conditions and remedial measures was being obtained. Members remarked that unless immediate action was taken the roads would be useless alike to the Army and to the producers. Two boys of 17 and 14 years respectively appeared in the Children's Court before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., yesterday, charged with the unlawful conversion of a car. It was stated that the boys had pushed a car, one Sunday night, from the front of a residence and had then attempted to drive away in it, being apprehended before any further harm was done. After receiving . a severe admonition the pair were discharged.

The first charges preferred in Wellington under the recent regulation fixing the maximum speed of motor vehicles at 40 miles an hour, for the purpose of conserving tyres and petrol, came before Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates Court. In convicting the first defendant, the magistrate remarked: "If he likes to use up tyres and petrol at 45 miles an hour, he will have to pay for it." Three defendants were each fined £3 with costs. A suggestion that because of "sub^tantial improvement in the petrol position" serious consideration be given to releasing petrol coupon No. 20 for, use durlng Labour Day weekend to enable workers to derive as much benefit as possible from the holiday and to keep their cars in better running order has been made by the executive of the South Island Motor Union to the Minister for Supply, Mr Sullivan. A letter to the Minister states that the suggestion has arisen since the Government declared Labour Day a public holiday. Failure to give vay to the right at the intersection of Charles street, along which he was driving, and Richmond street, on September 15, cost Mathew T'homas Henry Steele, of Picton, £2, with 10s costs, when he appeared before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., yesterday. Cbnstable J. LlacQee said the defendant had reported the accident, which had resulted vihen his car encountered another vehicle travelling north along Richmond street. No one had been injured. "According to his letter the car was green and the hedge was green, and he did not see it," remarked Mr Maunsell. Though a search has been made by members of the staff of the State Fire Office and members of the Home Guard Battalion at Wellington, no trace has been found of Mr A. W. C. Pidgeon, who has been missing since Tuesday of last week. Mr Pidgeon, who is an inspector on the staff of the State Fire Office, and a member of the Home Guard Battalion, lives at Northland, and was last seen in Roxburgh street at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday of last week. He is about 35 years of age, of sturdy build, fair complexion, with fair hair, and is about 5ft. 4in. in height. When last seen he was wearing a navy blue overcoat, with belt, grey trousers, wine-coloured sports coat, white shirt, and black shoes, but no hat. Yesterday Blenheim Amusements Ltd. gave the mayor, Mr C. T. Smith, the town clerk, Mr T. F. Bull, and Mr N. G. Parker, representing the Home Guard, a preview of three films, two Australian and a New Zealand production, now on loan to the local E.P.S. authorities. The films are described by the mayor as particularly interesting, bright and instructive. They will be shown in both theatres to-night, to-morrow and on Saturday. On Sunday night there will foe a free .showing for the public, compulsory for E.P.S. workers, at His Majesty's. In the opinion of those who saw the films their edueational value is immense and it is essential for real preparedness that everyone should see them. The Court would have to inflict a penalty whose effect would be implicit obedlence of the price orders, said Mr Levien, S.M., in the Auckland Magistrate's Court, when B. S. Chong, a Chinese, pleaded guilty to selling 21b of potatoes for 7d, at a time when the order fixed the price at 2d per 1b. It was necessary to impose a penalty that would make it not worth wlaile for anybody intending to side-step the regulations. Fining Chong £20, Mr Levien said the penalty might seem out of proportion to the price of the commodity, but when taken over weeks of such selling, it was not. The fine was only one-fifth of the maximum penalty, and it was likely that in future it would increase till it reached the maximum of £100. Fong Kee, another Chinese, was charged with having sold to an inspector carrots, parsnips and potatoes at prices in excess of the order at the time. He was fined £20 in respect of the sale of the potatoes, and £10 for the sale of the carrots.