“BUT NO STOUT”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 779, 27 September 1929, Page 1

“BUT NO STOUT”

ROTO ROA INMATES SEEK FOR OYSTERS NO MONEY FOR FINES "But they would have no stout,” remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when two inmates of the Roto Roa Inebriates’ Home were charged at the Police Court this morning with committing a breach of the Fisheries Act by picking oysters. lITR. HUBBLE prosecuted for the A -*■ department and the magistrate said tiiat lie understood the men had admitted the offence. Inspector Flynn, of the Fisheries Department, said that the two men, William Morcan and Peter McGrath, had been caught when witness, with another inspector, had been patrolling the oyster beds on Koto Roa Island on August 4. They hdd five dozen picked in a billy and were working with a lirst-class oyster-picking outfit which had evidently been well used. “It is almost impossible to watch these beds a>s the can see us coming four miles away," added the inspector. The Magistrate: lam not sure that you are allowed to land on the island anyway. The Inspector: I hardly think they would put us off. The beds are badly depleted now and they used to be quite good. The magistrate remarked that he had been assured by superintendent of the island that the offence would not be repeated. “I cannot penalise the men as they have no money to pay a fine,” lie added. Morcan and McGrath were convicted and discharged.