"DRESSING HIM DOWN."

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9184, Issue 9184, 7 April 1910, Page 3

"DRESSING HIM DOWN."

A RUNAWAY APPRENTICE. (Per Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, April -5. An unusual case was heard before Mr Bishop, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Lionel Errol McConchie, eighteen years of age, an apprentice at Aduington Workshops, was charged with absenting himself without leave from his work. Mr Evans, who represented the Railway Department, 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 leave.

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 advantage.

Mr Evans snicl defendant's father bad written to the defendant suggesting this course. The writer thought the boy should be brought before Mr Bishop, and that a dressing-down, by him would make the boy of a different frame of mind.

The Magistrate: "I don't want to dress him down, except to tell him that he had no right to leave the workshops in the manner ho did. I have never 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 in the matter, but ho must behave himself in the meantime. Ilis father wanted him to "dress defendant down." Well, he would just do a little in the dressing,down line. It would have been much better if defendant had gone to the manager in an honourable way, and had 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, which was against his will, but there was ho other course. However, lie took steps to have him released as quickly as possible. If defendant had gone about it in a proper way he would have been saved a lot of trouble. He did not think the Railway Department would have interfered with accused in his endeavour to find more congenial employment. The case would be ad; journed for a month, and defendant would be allowed on bail in his own recognisance.