Fined For Giving Credit To
p. 54 · Read in the full issue
N.G. Native
From Our Own Correspondent.
Rabaul, Mar. 23.
A CASE which caused interest here recently was that of the Crown against T, V. Wallace, of Walaur Planta tion, who was charged with having given goods to a native on credit, which is con trary to the provisions of the Natives Contracts Protection Ordinance.
The principal witness for the Crown was a chief from the North Coast dis trict, near Rabaul. It was alleged that the defendant supplied the witness with galvanised iron, nails, cement and other building material to construct a hot-air kiln.
The defence claimed that the material was given to the chief with the full understanding that there was no legal obligation on the native’s part to make repayment. A moral obligation was admitted.
Although the chief spoke good “pidgin - English,” and that language is officially accepted in the Lower Court, a European interpreter was furnished by the Crown and all native evidence translated. Mr.
P. J. Woodhill, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for the prosecution, assisted by Mr, H. A. Gregory, who had been making the investigations. Mr. A. Kelly appeared for the defence.
The defendant was convicted, and fined £2.