Pre-ration Petrol Purchase to 000 Fine Leads
Page 18
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AN offence in connection with the use of 607 gallons of petrol led to the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation of Perth being fined £300 at Perth Sher iff Court. The corporation admitted using the petrol Other than under a licence, or against the issue of petrol coupons, during the period from June 1, 1940, to February 21 of this year.
Agent for the accused said that,at no time was there any suggestion of criminal intent or concealment of the circumstance t surrounding the offence, which was committed through ignorance and quite innocently
Immediately on the outbreak of war the corporation acquired a _tank and pump and purchased 900 gallons of petrel, which were paid for at that time and put into the tank as I reserve. .At the time thetcorporation was told by the Petroleum Board that it was in order in doing what it did. The petrol was drawn by employees from the tank on special authorization, and a check kept. The petrol belonging to the corporation had been purchased legally and with official approval in September, 1939. Its issue was within the corporation and, accordingly, no coupons could be asked for, andas the petrol was not being sold there was no question of a licence
The mistake the corporation had made.was in thinking that the Petroleum Board in Perth, and the Divisional Petroleum Office in Edinburgh, were associated. The whole thing had been done without felonious intent.
The Fiscal pointed out however, that, _with regard to the last point coupons and licences were obtained from the Ministry of Fuel The Petroleum Board in Pe'rth was simply a wartime organization for the digtribution of petrol, and was not a Government office. He also pointed out that the petrol purchase was enade on September 20, 1939, and that petrol rationing was introduced on September 22.On the date of the purchase people knew. there was to be petrol rationing.
Imposing a fine of £300, and order' ing the confiscation of the remainder of the petrol, the Sheriff-Substitute said that great quantities had been useff withbut proper authority