MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24151, 10 January 1944, Page 6

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

SATURDAY (Before Mr E. C. Lewey, S.M.)

Sydney David Sutton, aged 33 years, a labourer, pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a wristlet watch valued at £l2, the property of Walter George Downing. On the application of Detective-Sergeant J. McClung accused was remanded until January 17. Bail was allowed accused in his own recognisance of £SO and one surety of £SO. DESERTED FROM SHIP

Ng Kong, aged 25 years, a cook, was charged with unlawfully deserting a ship and, being an alien, with entering New Zealand when not in possession of the necessary permit. Senior-Sergeant J. Blckerdike said accused, a Chinese cook aboard a ship trading to New Zealand, had left his ship on December 28 with the Intention of visiting relatives in Dunedin. Apparently he did not expect the ship to sail as soon as it did.

Though an interpreter (Mr Walli"-ford Chan) accused said both his paren had been killed at Canton, and with a brother he escaped to Singapore. When this town fell into enemy hands he escaped and took a position as a cook on a ship. On arrival in New Zealand he went to Dunedin to see his uncle who lived there. He had no intention of deserting, and had taken no extra clothes with him. All he had taken was what he stood up in He had had no trouble with other members of the crew although, being a cook the others spoke to him rather harshly at times.

Mr Wallingford Chan, in asking that accused be allowed to go free until the arrival of a suitable vessel on which he could be placed, said that as Chinese Missioner he would be personally responsible for the behaviour of accused.

The Magistrate said he could not accede to the request. On the first charge accused would be sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment, and on the second to six months’ imprisonment, accused to be placed on die first available ship.