REFUSED TO WORK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 27, 1 February 1945, Page 6

REFUSED TO WORK

ADAMANT PRISONER

14 DAYS BREAD AND WATER

Because he still persisted in his refusal to perform labour at the Auckland prison, Allan John Yates, aged 30, who was sentenced by Mr. J. Morling, S.M., on January 25 to: a bread and water diet for five days for an aggravated prison offence, was brought to the Police Court this morning on a similar charge, when he was given the maximum sentence of 14 days' bread and water.

Yates this morning again refused to plead when charged with an aggravated prison offence—the disobedience of the Prison Regulations, by refusing to perform labour, having twice been punished for refusing to work.

Superintendent W. T. Leggett, of the Auckland prison, said Yates still persisted in his attitude. In September he was received at the prison from Rotorua, where he had been in a defaulters' camp. When first admitted to prison Yates worked quite satisfactorily until early last month, when he refused to perform labour. "He says he prefers peace and quiet to think the matter over," added Mr. Leggett.

'"I have no fresh statement to make, except that I have been a military defaulter for three years," said Yates to the magistrate. "In refusing to perform military service I believe I am doing th*.. right and proper thing."

In sentencing Yates to a further 14 days bread and water, Mr. Levien told him he had no other alternative.