REFUSAL TO WORK AT PRISON

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24483, 5 February 1945, Page 8

REFUSAL TO WORK AT PRISON

DEFAULTER SENTENCED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, February 3. Because he still persisted in his refusal to perform labour at the Auckland prison, Allan John Yates, aged 30, who was sentenced on January 25 to a bread and water diet for five days for an aggravated prison offence, was brought to the Magistrate’s Court again on a similar charge, and was given the maximum sentence of 14 days’ bread and water diet.

Yates 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 the right and proper thing.” Sentencing Yates to a further 14 days on bread and water, the Magistrate fold him that he had no other alternative.