AUDACIOUS SWAGMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 13

AUDACIOUS SWAGMEN.

STEALING RIDES ON TRAINS. RAILWAY GUARDS DEFIED. Swagmen in New South Wales are becoming more audacious in boarding trains without paying their fares. On a recent morning 14 men boarded the bottom compartment of an empty sheep van south of Cofi's Harbour, but, on arrival at Coff's Harbour, were ordered off by railway officials. The men would not leave the truck, and became abusive. Even threats of imprisonment failed to dislodge them. As a last resource the guard had the truck shunted into a siding. This ruse did not deter the swagmen, who again jumped on the train as it was steaming out of the station. The police ware informed, and on arrival of the train at the next station the men were arrested. Free rides on railway trucks; are creasing. Large numbers of men are continually being arrested at Wagga and fined for the offence. The Wagga police lately arrested 16 young men, whose ages range from 18 to 22 years. Most of the men arrested were travelling from ono end of the country to another searching for work. They aro respectable-looking, unused to tramping the roads. When arrested they usually regard the whole matter as a good joke, until the magistrate imposes fines ranging from 5s to £l, and orders them to pay their fares or go to gaol.