UNUSUAL CHARGE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 595, 28 July 1933, Page 5

UNUSUAL CHARGE

CASE AT TAUPO PICTURE THEATRE PROPRIETOR - MAKES BREACH OF ACT OFFICIAL ADMISSION TICKETS

An unusual charge arising from a contravention of the provisions of the regulations under the Finance Ast, 1917, was preferred against Joseph Ernest Skeen, a picture theatre proprietor, of Taupo, at the Taupo Magistrate's Court yesterday. Skeen was charged with failing to use the official stamped tickets for admissioxr to his theatre on March 11 last as provided for in section 21 of the. regulations under part 3, Finance Act, 1917, and an Order-in-Council issued on April 30, 1918, and also with failing to furnish returns to the Commissioner of Stamp Duties of persons admitted under section 29 (2) of the same regulations. Skeen pleaded guilty and was represented by Mr. Lockhead, of Putaruru. Evidence was given by Constable Brown that acting on instructions from the commissioner he had attended the picture theatre owned by Skeen at Taupo on March 11 and had been admitted at tbe price of two shillings without receiving a stamped receipt for this amount. In a statement made to Constable Hedley, of Taumarunui, Skeeir stated that he ctmtrolled Theatres at Taupo and throughout the King Country and was seldom at Taupo, where the screening was done by his fatlier, Ernest Skeen. He had known that they did not have any two sliilling admissiOn tickets at Taupo, where the screening was done by his father, Ernest Skeen. He had known that they did not have any two sliilling admission • tickets at Taupo on March 11. His father and a man named Stubbs generally made returns for the Taupo theatre. The magistrate, Mr. S. L. Paterson, imposed a fine of £5 on the first charge and £2 on the secofid, with costs.