GAOL SENTENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 4

GAOL SENTENCE

.WATERFRONT THEFT UNCUSTOMED GOODS "More and more cases of pillaging | are coming from the waterfront," said Mr. J. H. Lnxford, S.M., yesterday, when Owen John McPhillips, _ aged 27, waterside worker (Mr. Aekins), was charged with stealing two cartons of cigarettes valued at Bs, with receiving 20 packets of razor blades and nine cartons of cigarettes valued at £2 9s 2d knowing the articles to have been stolen, and with being in possession of uncustomed goods. The charges of theft and receiving were denied, but accused admitted the third charge. Constable Scott said that at 6.20 a.m. he saw accused leave Prince's Wharf bv climbing around the fence at the western side. Accused said he was leaving early and had gone that way to avoid the timekeeper. When accused opened his coat witness saw two cartons tucked in his belt. He admitted taking them from the hold in which he was working. He told the police he had the other goods in his room and they were found. Statement by Accused Accused said he had bought the cigarettes from a steward for 10s a carton. The steward had asked him if he wanted any on June 29 and accused, i who had only £1 with him, bought five 'cartons. Ho borrowed 30s from another i waterside worker. He had taken some off on a previous night and had left the other cartons on a beam in the hold. He had not wanted to expose the steward, who might get into I trouble with the customs authorities. He had been nervous and upset when he said lie had t a ken the goods from the hold. Another steward had given him the razor blades. It was a habit of a number of waterside workers to climb i around the fence to dodge the time- ! keepers. j Three other waterside workers gave j evidence that accused had apnroached I them to borrow money to buy the cigarottes. One of them had lent him the 130s. They did not buy any as it was ; risky even to buy the cigarettes and j difficult to convince anybody that they ! were honestly obtained. | The shin's steward gave evidence that I lie had given accused the cigarettes. Magistrate's Comment j The magistrate said the receiving charge would be dismissed as there was insuffieient evidence, "ft is very hard to believe that the cigarettes were stored on a beam," added the magistrate. The penalty for theft from the waterfront must be imprisonment. If thieving became prevalent in any class of business the penalty must be severe until it was stopped, ft was good to hear the common-sense views of the other men who would not take the risk of even buying the goods. Accused was sentenced to two months' imprisonment on the theft charge and was convicted and discharged on the third charge. CLEARING SALES DAIRY HERDS IN FRANKLIN FACTORS DUE TO THE WAR 00.C.) PUKEKOHE. "Thursday Although the number of farm clearing sales in the Franklin district this winter is stated to he not exceptional, now factors arising from wartime conditions have caused some dairy farmers to sell their herds. In the past two months the entire dairy herds on some 30 farms within the Franklin county, and in the Clevedon district, have been disposed of through stock and station agents. They have been sold either at clearing sales on the properties or at the saleyards. In addition a number of •farmers are now selling their whole herds at the saleyards as the cattle come to profit. According to a stock and station agent, any increase in clearing sales in the district this year would be largely the result of the State vegetable scheme at Patumahoe, where an area of 820 acres has been taken over for the production of vegetables for the armed forces. The area extends over 1G farms, which have recently been either wholly or partly leased for the duration of the war. Seven farmers whose properties have b'een taken over have already held clearing sales and disposed of their herds. In a few cases owner-farmers have sold their stock prior to undertaking military service, but in a number of other cases, it is stated, elderly farmers who have been unable to replace their sons or employees, who are on active service, with suitable labour, have either given up dairying or substantially reduced their herds. Reduced herds have also been brought about by the abnormally dry conditions during the past season. The poor season and the resultant shortage of feed are reflected in the large number of cull cows that have been sold in the past few months. Some exceptionally large yardings of dairy cattle have come forward at. recent weekly stock sales at Pukekohe. Bidding has been keen and good prices have been realised. UNUSUAL CHARGE LABOURER FOR TRIAL A charge of being an incorrigible rogue in that he had in his possession a pair of tongs, an instrument of house-breaking, having been previously I convicted of being a rogue and vagabond, was denied by Colin William Glass, labourer, aged 30 (Mr. Sullivan), before Mr. F. H. Levien", S..M, yesterday. Evidence was given that a garage had been broken into in Manukau Road and that a padlock on another garage door had been broken. Constable J. C. Clarke said he apprehended accused in the vicinity and found him in possession of tongs. Accused ran away but witness identified him at an identification parade. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed. FAMILY TRAGEDY HELP FROM AUCKLAND The report of the recent tragedy at Invercargill, when a widow drowned four of Iter six young children and took Iter own life, has elicited widespread practical sympathy in the Auckland Province. In a letter to the New Zeat,and Hf.kat.d the town clerk of Invercargill reports that he received remittances from individuals in Auckland city and province amounting to £29 17s 6d. The Mayor of Invercargill, he says, has been deeply touched by the kindness of the Auckland people. The town clerk asks, however, that publicity be given to the fact that the trouble with the family was not finance. The money received will be applied to give any assistance required to the surviving children pending the completion of legal formalities in the administration of the estate, and in the meantime it is not anticipated that any further donations will be required. As an outcome of this tragedy an effort is being made in Invercargill to form a committee drawn from Unsocial service organisations, whose function it "ill be to keen in touch with women with families during this time of strain. The town clerk suggests that this subject might well be taken up in other centres in the Dominion.