GIVEN A CHANCE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 120, 14 February 1935, Page 2

GIVEN A CHANCE

Youth Allowed' to Accept Employment CHARGES OF FORGERY “This is a chance which is rarely given to young fellows who have behaved as you have done,” said the'Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday, in admitting George 'William Gordon Sutton, aged 19, to 18 months probation on two charges of forgery and uttering in July, 1933. Mr. R. Hardie Boys, who. appeared for Sutton, said that thanks to the secretary of the Labourers’ Union there was an offer of work for Sutton. . The Chief Justice said the court and prisoner were indebted to the Salvation Army for the offer to look after the youth and to the secretary of the Labour Union for his offer. One of the offers would be accepted, and the question was, which was best for the youth. He had discussed the matter with the Probation Officer, who stated that Sutton was described as a lazy boy who did not work well. If he went to work with the people who had macle the offer he would have to work hard or they would not keep him. The Salvation Army was prepared to look after him at Rotorua, but it was not clear what that meant. Mr. Boys said the Salvation Army officer had explained that the work at Rotorua would be on a poultry farm, but that might tend to cultivate Sutton’s laziness. The Chief Justice said it would perhaps be better to let Sutton accept the offer made by the Wellington contractors. Addressing accused, the Chief Justice warned him that it would be no use his loafing on the job now, because if he did he would be discharged. If, by reason of his laziness or other misconduct, he lost his job he would be sentenced on the present charges and would bejsent to the Borstal Institute for a substantial period.