WARNING GIVEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 921, 14 March 1930, Page 1

WARNING GIVEN

MUST HAVE LICENCE TO STORE PETROL FIRST PROSECUTION The first prosecution under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act, for storing petrol in tanks or pumps without a licence, was heard in the Police Court this morning. Mr. Girling Butcher, for the Department of- Internal Affairs, said he was not pressing for a heavy penalty and the prosecution was merely a the public,' oil companies and garage proprietors. Raymond Wilfred Clare was charged with storing petrol in tanks and pumps on his premises without being the holder of a licence under the Act. Mr. lnder entered a plea of guilty. The inspector, counsel for the prosecution continued, should have be«n notified of defendant’s intention to install a pump. There were nine pumps on the premises and eight w r ere the property of oil companies. The penalty included forfeiture of the goods and pumps. Mr. Inder explained that defendant was not really responsible as he was not present when the pumps were instated. He leased the pumps from the oil companies and was surely entitled ta think that the companies had attended to the licensing. As soon as defendant discovered that he required a licence he had written to the mspector of explosives at Wellington but had not yet received a reply. Counsel asked for dismissal of the charge without conviction. This Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., declined to do. pointing out that the affaii was certainly not trivial. It was oi great importance to the public, as the storing of large quantities of petro could lead to the generating of dangerous gas. Defendant, however, was probably not altogether responsible Remarking that he wanted to bring home their obligations to the oil companies. the magistrate ordered confiscation of the pumps and petrol, abou 555 gallons. _ „. Clare was fined 10s and 10s costs.