"GET A DECENT JOB."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 11

"GET A DECENT JOB."

BASKET MAKER'S ARREST.

VAGRANCY CHARGE DISMISSED

MR. HUNT WARNS YOUNG MAN,

Arrested at his mothers home yesterday by the Freeman's Bay police, Bertie Clark, aged 2(3, a basket maker, appeared at the Police Court this morning on a charge deeming him to be an idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support. Mr. J. J. Sullivan represented aceused, who pleaded guilty. Constable Stephens, who arrested Clark, said that a complaint wae received i that accused was living on his mother. ' Clark told witn&ss that he had ouly done 13 weeks' work during the laet three years, and that he waited at home until he got one month's work delivering pamphlets every year. According to the constable, Clark further stated that he had been offered a job at Coromandel, but he turned it down because the work was too hard. "His mother receives the old age pension of £2 7/6 per month, and earns 10/ per week by going out working," added witness. Mr. Sullivan: Where did you receive the complaint from. Was it from Mrs. L lark's husband, accused's stepfather?— No, the complaint came from the Pensions Department through Mr. Clark. Counsel said there was no evidence whatever that accused was a disorderly man. He had actually been arrested in his mother's home. "Surely there is ! no case agaiu-st this man until the mother makes the complaint," said Mr. Sullivan. "The stepfather has given the house over to his daughter, and Mrs. Llark will give evidence of that. Litigation is pending about that. Accused helps his mother by making baskets, which she sells. When he told the constable he had not worked for some time he was referring to outside work."

Mr. Hunt: There is a case to answer all right. Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, mother of accused, in evidence said she was Cβ. Her second husband, who lived in the house with her, was aged 84. He had made the house over to his daughter, and this was going to be the subject ol Court action.* Her son, the accused, had made a large number of baskets for her. She got the money for thetn. Witness said she went out to work in a shop, but only received 5/ a week and a loaf of bread every day. "My husband has tried to turn me out into the street and he wants the boy to go out too,' , she added. Cross-examined by Sub-Inspector McCarthy, witness said she could not give the number of baskets accused made for her. He had made a large number. He was not paid for them. She admitted keeping him, except when he earned money by delivering pamphlets and when he worked on a baker's cart. Accused then gave evidence, corroborating what his mother had stated. Mr. Hunt: I won't convict him on the evidence, but accused had better get out and obtain work. Tell him to get a decent job, Mr. Sullivan, because the police will keep an eye on him from now. on. The charge was dismissed.