DAMAGE TO LAUNCHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 11

DAMAGE TO LAUNCHES

ENGINE PARTLY DISMANTLED BOYS SEEKING SCRAP METAL A suggestion that purchases of scrap metal by foundries should be subject to some check was made in the Children's Court on Saturday by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when two boys admitted committing damage aboard two launches. One of the boys had been playing truant from school and had met the other, said Senior-Sergeant Flanagan. They had been seeking at boat anchorages for scraps of motal for sale to foundries for melting down. They had been found removing copper piping from the engine of a launch which had been hauled up, and had damaged the engine to the extent of £35. Damage estimated at £8 had been done to the switchboard of another boat, and when the boys were caught they had a box full of copper and brass scraps. The father of one boy had offered to pay half the damage, £2l. It was explained that foundries did not have to take the names and addresses of those from whom they bought scrap metal. The boys had broken up the metal to make it appear worthless. "We cannot have foundries buying scrap metal from mere children and melting it down beyond hope of recovery," said Mr. Hunt. "There should be some check on that sort of thing, otherwise the buyers should be up here with the boys."