POLICE COURT SEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16169, 4 March 1916, Page 5

POLICE COURT SEWS.

SOLDIER AND HIS PAY.

URGE TOTAL OF " FINES."

An interesting statement was made regarding liis pay by Arthur Frederick Neall, who appeared before Sir. F. V. Fra?er, S.M., in the. Police Court yester.day for sentence on charges of assaulting Private J. R. Whitelaw, who had cast doubts op defendant's claim to be a returned soldier, and of unlawfully wearing His Majesty's unifom. At the hearing on Tuesday, the magistrate suggested that the Defence authorities might provide defendant with a suit of civilian clothing.

Reporting on his inquiries, Sub-Inspector Mcllveney said the Defence authorities had refused to grant Neall a suit, as it would establish an undesirable precedent. .Not only had defendant received £1 10s for a suit, but he was paid £25 16s lid on his discharge. Defendant said he was supposed to receive more money, but, after \vajting 10 Says for the result of communications between the Auckland Defence Office and the Department, lie received an account from the Quartermaster-General for £15 hospital expenses and £16 for fines. His pay-book only showed 14s as fines. Now there was only about £1 6s due, instead of a, very, much larger, sum.

The magistrate, remarked, after glancing at accused's papers, that the Government apparently paid defendant's hospital expenses but not his wages. It was taking money out of one pocket and putting it into the other. There was nothing to complain of in that. It was no use the Bench discussing the matter, which was one between the Department'and accused. The account, on the face of it, seemed correct. Respecting the charge against accused, lie had no right to wear the uniform, and no excuse. He had been in gaol two or three days, and that would be regarded as sufficient penalty for this assault. ■ --

Accused was convicted and discharged, and recommended to call on the probation officer, the Rev. F, Jeffreys, for assistance regarding clothes and advice.

MISCELLANEOUS. Frederick Gott and Ernest Simpson were each charged with leaving a motorcar without sufficient lights. ' Each- stated extenuating circumstances." Gott ""was convicted and discharged, and the charge against Simpson was dismissed. A first offender was fined 5s for drunkenness in Customs Street. A further remand- for- one week was grantgd in the case of Francis Charles Masted, charged with assaulting John Lee on February, 25 in Mount Albert. It was stated that Eee, who had a fractured nose, was suffering severely from headache, and was still unable to appear. The Islander, who goes, by the name of Daniels, and-who was charged with committing a serious offence, was further remanded until Monday.