DANGEROUS HABIT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 131, 27 February 1937, Page 8

DANGEROUS HABIT

Youthful Cyclists Hanging

on to Trams CASES BEFORE COURT “This is a very dangerous practice,” said Mr. J. Molding, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, yesterday, when three youths were brought before him charged with having hung on to the outside of a tramcar. Sub-Inspector J. A. Dempsey said it was dangerous in many respects, but lie thought the boys regarded it as a joke and a source of amusement.

Charges of hanging on to the outside of a tramcar and of the theft of a pinch bar valued at 2/-, the property of the Wellington City Tramway Department, preferred against Cyril Herbert Croft, were dismissed. Two other youths, Clement Gestro and Harry Schuster, both of whom pleadbd guilty, were convicted and fined 10/- each, with costs, for having hung on to the outside of a tramcar.

Evidence was given for the prosecution that the youths on bicycles had held on to a tram in Broadway Avenue, Miramar. The conductor of the tram said he had warned them several times, but they had only called him vile names. Croft refused to let go, and the conductor took a pinch bar with the intention of frightening the boys, but he lost a grip of it and it fell to the roadway. Croft had picked it up and had not given it back. It was stated that boys had been following the practice of hanging on to trams for months, and there had nearly been three accidents.

Mr. W. P. Rollings, who appeared for Croft, submitted that there had been a conflict of evidence by witnesses for the prosecution. The magistrate said he thought there was no intention of theft. Children With Firearms

A statement that there had been a good deal of trouble with children during the long enforced school holidays by their securing firearms, was made by Sub-Inspector J. A. Dempsey during the hearing of a case against Frederick George Davies and Charles Leslie West.on, who were charged with supplying a firearm to a child under 16 years of age. The sub-inspector said boys had been out on the streets firing at other boys. It was stated that Davies had purchased an air rifle for Weston's grandson. Weston had handed the weapon over to his grandson, who when using it in the street had hit a tram. Each defendant was fined 10/- and costs. Lice-Affected Sheep Charged with having exposed for sale at Johnsonville sheep that were affected with lice, John Todd McCawe, farmer, was fined £1 and costs. On similar charges Arthur Kilmister and Laurence Victor Kilmister were both convicted and ordered to pay costs. Other Charges An adjournment for one week was granted in a case in which Harold Fairchild I’obhr, agent, is charged with conducting a lottery. John Jacob 'Scott, labourer, 76 years, was convicted gild fined 5/- for a second statutory offence of drunkenness. For casting offensive matter, Paul Raphael Stempa was convicted and fined 10/- and costs.