"MEAN IMPOSITION."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 172, 23 July 1928, Page 8

"MEAN IMPOSITION."

MAN ACCEPTING RELIEF.

WHILE EARNING WAGES.

SENTENCE OF HARD LABOUR.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WANGANUI, this dav

Herbert Daniel Cooksley anil his wife, Florence Ethel .Cooksley, "were charged with vagrancy in the Police Court today and with having imposed upon the Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Board by the false representation that tJiev were unable to work.

'lhe evidence disclosed that Cooksley had been an inmate of the hospital, and on the representations of his wife, he whs allotted £2 2/(5- in cash and orders from the Charitable Aid Board from January 18 to June 30. In addition he had .been working on the wharf, and in the, railway shed, and from May 16 to June 20 he earned £20 »/3, and £3 3/5 from the railway. Prior to May 16 he also earned £3 3/.

Senior-Sergeant Lopdeli characterised it as a very mean and contemptible imposition. It was discovered when some person sent a letter to the board.

Accused blamed the hospital doctors for keeping him there so long, and said that the first operation performed on him was not carried out properly, and his '"stomach was twisted."

The magistrate (Mr. J. S. Barton), commented adversely on accused's action in trying to justify what he had done by easting reflections on the hospital, and said lie had not the slightest doubt that accused had had the benefit of the best skill available.

Mr. Barton went on to refer to cases of genuine hardship, and the compelling of thrifty people to keep the unthrifty out of their small earning*. Time and again lie had had young people in the box who had been earning £."> and £6 a week, and when they were out of work for a few weeks they had nothing. All had been squandered in amusements etc.

He sentenced Cooksley to seven davs' hard labour, and convicted and discharged the wife.