LADY ASTOR FINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1943, Page 3

LADY ASTOR FINED

FOR ATTEMPTING TO ACQUIRE RATIONED GOODS PLEA OF IGNORANCE OF ORDER ’ COMMENTED ON SEVERELY BY MAGISTRATE. “CARELESSNESS WHICH IS STARTLING." (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright’ (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m. LONDON. July 30. Lady Astor, M.P.. who pleaded guilty, was fined £5O with £lO costs, at Bow Street, for attempting to acquire rationed goods from America contraiy to the Consumer Rationing Order and the Defence Regulations. 1939-40. _ The Prosecutor said Lady Astor, in a letter to Mr Yandell, head of the American Red Cross, in Britain, enclosing a cutting of an advertisement from an American newspaper relating to a lady's fur jacket, asked Mr Yandell to get his wife to look at it. The lettei added: “If it is not much, perhaps one would be possible.” The letter contained a.list of articles, including silk stockings, gloves, evening shoes, _ a dress with a fur collar and an evening gown. . , Counsel for Lady Astor expressed her great regret at the breach of the ordei, which had occurred through her complete ignorance of its existence. The Magistrate said: "It is very astonishing that a lady who must have constantly brought to her attention such details as the need for clothing coupons should be so completely ignorant. It is a depth of ignorance and a degree of carelessness which is startling” ______