FREE RIDES ON TRAINS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 August 1927, Page 5

FREE RIDES ON TRAINS.

YOUNG MAN BEFORE COURT. At the Hawera Police Court this morning, before Alessrs R. S. Sage and L. A, Bone, J’s.P., a young man named Percy Corrigan avu<s charged with drunkenness, Avith travelling on the raihvays on January 31 last from Alarton to Hawera without having paid the required fare, 9s Gd, and with travelling from Aramoho to Hawera on Saturday last without paying the fare, Gs 6d. He pleaded guilty to all three charges.. Sergeant J, Henry -stated that Corrigan had - been arrested on the drunkenness charge on Saturday at the Haivera railway station, when lie had 2s od in his possession. In respect of the second charge, he had hoarded the train at Alarton on January 31, and when asked for his fare had told Guard Hayward that- he had no money, but was coming to Hawera to work for Air. J. R. Corrigan and Avould pay the fare as soon as possible. It had later been ascertained that Air. Corrigan did not know the lad, . nor had he promised liiin work, -and. as sl result it had been impossible to trace him. On Saturady lie had joined the train at Aramoho in a similar manner, but had been recognised by the guard. On this •occasion he had said he Avas coming to Hatvera- to AA-ork- for Mr. R. T; Bullock. This was subsesuently found to be incorrect. The defendant seemed to be an irresponsible youth, AA-homade it hi-s practice to wander about the country. tra\ r elling on trains without paying* hi-s fare He \yas just over 21* years of age, and seemed able to -obtain sufficient money to pay for liquor. ... Oil the drunkenness charge Corrigan was convicted and fined- os. On the second charge he aaus fined £4, and on the third £l, in default seA'en days’ imprisonment. He Avas also ordered to pay the two fares, amounting to IGs. The Bench issued a Avarningthat serious trouble AA'ould result if the offences Avere repeated.