CHARGES DISMISSED

Southland Times, Issue 24885, 27 October 1942, Page 6

CHARGES DISMISSED

Alleged Breaches Of

Regulations

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, October 26. After a hearing lasting a day and ahalf during which the evidence of 18 witnesses for the prosecution was taken, two charges against Metal Workers Ltd. alleging breaches of the regulations governing the control and supply of building materials was dismissed by Mr W. H, Woodward, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth on Saturday. The charges were that being a concern within the meaning of the Supply Control Regulations 1939 the company, with intent to deceive, made a false statement in a written communication about July 17, 1942, with Douglas Shaw, the Emergency Controller under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations 1939.

“The most that can be said against the defendant company is that the form has been filled in incorrectly,” Mr Woodward said in dismissing the charges. There has been carelessness, but I don’t think there has been any attempt to deceive.” Mr C. H. Croker, counsel for the defence, then intimated that if it was agreed to withdraw seven of the charges against E. C. Hayton alleging that in parting with the possession of galvanized corrugated iron he failed to comply with the directions given under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations 1939 Hayton would amend his plea to guilty in the other nine charges. Mr G. Macallan, Crown Prosecutor, agreed to this course and the cases will be taken tomorrow morning.