[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A RUNAWAY APPRENTICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 3

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A RUNAWAY APPRENTICE.

AX UNUSUAL CASE. CHRISTCHURCH, sth Apiil. An unusual case was heard before Mr. Bishop, S.M., in the Magistrates Court to-day, when Lionel Errol M'Conchie, eighteen years of age, an apprentice at Addin^ton' Workshops, was charged with absenting himself without leave from hrs work. -Mr. fcvaus, who represented the Railway Depaitment, said proceedings were taken at the instigation of defendant's father, who wanted him to stop at the workshop. Defendant said he wanted to go farming, and for some time he had been harvesting and ploughing. He did not care about the work, and wanted to leavo. The Magistrate pointed out to defendant that he was liable to three months' imprisonment, and his father was only doing what was manifestly to his zdvantage. Mr. Evans said defendant's father nad written to the department suggesting this course. The writer thought the boy should be brought before 2vlr. Bishop, and that a dressing-down by him would make tho boy of a different frame of mind. Tho Magistrate : "I don't want co d:ess him down, except to tell him that he had no right to leave the workshoD!* in the manner ha did. I have r«vi-r found any good in trying to drive an unwilling person. I think if the General Manager of Railways was communicated ■with, the matter could be satisfactorily arranged without any trouble." Addressing the boy, the Magistrate said he would adjourn the case for a month in order to see what could be done ip il c matter, but he must behave himself in the meantime. His lather wanted him to "dress defendant down." Well, he would juyt dc a little in che dressing-down line. It would have been much better if defendant had gone to the managei in an honourabb way, and hod told him he wanted to be relieved of his position, instead of clearing out. He (the Magistrate) had to issue a warrant for his arrest, wbicb w&s against his will, but tin re •»vas> uo other course. However, he took steps to have him released .is q:<ick- '\ as possible. If defendant had gone about it in a proper way he would nave been saved a lot of trouble. He did in t think the Railway Department would h<no interfered with accused iv Ms cnoeavour to find <nore congenial employjient. The case would be adjourned for a month, and defendant would le rllovtd on bail m his own recognisance.