YOUTHS OBSTRUCT DRILL

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1928, Page 12

YOUTHS OBSTRUCT DRILL

“BUSH LAWYER” FINED.

AUCKLAND, May 2

Charged with having obstructed a military parade at Ellerslie, a youth named Charles Day, pleaded not guilty at the Police Court this morning. Lieutenant. E. T. McKane said he was the officer commanding the Ellerslie Company and was drilling his men in the street on a recent evening, when half a dozen youths, who stood outside a shop, commenced to imitate his commands. He endured this for some time, but later, leaving his sergeant in charge of the company, he went over to the youths and spoke to them about their conduct. “I told them that there was such a thing as law and order in this country and that they would have to keep it.” said witness. The youths persisted in imitating his commands. After he had dismissed the parade, witness, while on his way home, was jeered at by two youths, one of whom was Day. Witness told Day that he should not interfere with military operations. “Oh, I have heard such things before, but it only goes in one ear and out the other,” was Day’s reply. Day told the Magistrate that he was not among the men who imitated the commands, and he also denied jeering at the lieutenant. “Anyway, boys should not be drilled on the roadways,” he added. “Who said so?” asked the Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt). Day: I was at the Supreme Court once and heard the Judge say so when there was a case of a cadet being knocked down by a motor-car. After making a remark about Day endeavouriiig to be a “bush lawyer,’ Mr. Hunt imposed a fine of £1 with costs.