MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 200, 3 May 1912, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT

STOCK INSPECTOR PROSECUTES. A farmer named Wm. Willing was charged in the Magistrate's Court yesterday with having, on March 15, exposed for sale five calves at the Waiwakaiho saleyards without having had them branded or vaccinated within seven days of the sale. Mr. H. Munro, stock inspector, prosecuted. In admitting the charge, Willing pleaded ignorance of the law. According to Mr. Munro, the calves were in a pen at the saleyards on the day in question. He warned Willing i not to oifer them for sale. He made arrangements to meet him and get the animals seen to. Willing, however, did not keep the appointment, so he wrote to him. When he saw Willing subsequently he told him that he had sold the calves privately soon after the sale. The inspector added that disease was frequently spread through cattle which had not been vaccinated being brought into saleyards. The calves in question liad no disease, nor had' the accused any previous convictions against him for breaches of the Stock Act. The regulations were well-known throughout Taranaki.

In fining accused £2 and costs 7s, Mr. Crooke, S.M., remarked that- he hoped publicity would be given to the fact that tiie minimum fine in these eases would be £2, and that the law provided a fine of £2OO as a maximum.