S.M. COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1941, Page 5

S.M. COURT

SITTING IN MASTERTON BYLAW CASES. CHARGE AGAINST RESERVIST. The fortnightly sitting of the Masterton Magistrate’s Court was held today. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench. Charles Henry Devenport was fined £1 10s and Ils costs on a charge of having driven without due care and attention in Chapel Street. Masterton. on August 13. Senior Sergeant G. A. Doggett said that the charge arose out of an accident in which the defendant’s car and a cyclist were involved at an intersection. In fining Devenport, Mr Lawry said he should have given way to the cyclist on his right. D. Butler was charged with having failed to enrol in Class A of the First Division of the General Reserve, under the National Service Regulations. Arising out of the same charge Kingsley McCarthy Butler was charged with having retained for more than 7 days a reservist who had failed to enrol. Senior Sergeant Doggett said that there was no question of wilful evasion.

Mr G. D. Wilson said the reservist was not fit for overseas service and his action in not enrolling was due to a misunderstanding. “The time has come when most of these cases are going to gaol, the majority of the single men having been balloted for,” observed Mr Lawry. “But in the case of D. Butler gaol is not warranted.” He fined D. Butler £3 and K. M. Butler £2.

Miss I. Barton was fined 10s and 10s 6d costs on a charge of having permitted a horse to stray in Matai Street. Mr H. H. Daniell appeared for the defendant and Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas for the Borough Council. The Borough Traffic Inspector. Mr J. McGregor, prosecuted in the following cases: —

“Transport drivers do not take enough interest in their heavy traffic licence discs,” said Mr McGregor in prosecuting I. Allen and Son, Ltd., for having operated a heavy motor vehicle without a heavy traffic licence. “They are always very surprised to learn that their licences have expired. The onus is on the driver to see that the licence is up to date.” • Mr J. Macfarlant Laing said that the offence was due to an omission by the company secretary. A fine of £2 and 10s costs was imposed. The Cunningham Carrying Company was fined £2 and 10s costs on a charge of having operated a heavy motor vehicle and horse float in High Street on September 13 without a heavy traffic licence. James Robert Watt was fined £1 10s and 10s costs on a charge of having exceeded the speed limit across the intersection of Chapel and Perry streets on September 9. Civil Business. Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following undefended civil claims: J. Graham & Co., Ltd. v P. B. Wilson, claim £7 Is, costs £1 0s 6d. In a judgment summons case A. Hausman was ordered to pay A. E. Turner £7 2s 8d in default 7 days' imprisonment. The warrant is to be suspended so long as defendant paid 7s 6d per month.