RAIDS ON BACHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25343, 26 October 1945, Page 8

RAIDS ON BACHES

WHOLESALE THEFTS SEVEN MEN INVOLVED WHEELS TAKEN FROM CARS A story of th-ftjin which seasM , baches were almost denuded of the' furnishings and fit tings'and of the strip 1, ping of motor-cars in various parts of the city of their wheels and tyres was unfolded before Mr F. H. Levien, S M yesterday when seven men faced a totai of 44 charges of breaking and entering theft and unlawful conversion of motor! cars. At the request of the prosecutor" Senior-Detective J. Trethewey, the accused appeared in the dock together. " The accused were:—Geoffrey Roland Kelly, aged Ml, labourer (Mr Trimmer) who was in.-olved in .'!f> charges; Charles John Rogers, aged 40, farmer and valuer (Mr Doul), 35 charges; Eric Edward Parris, aged 34, labourer (Mr Aekins), 12 charges; Phillip X api?r Hunter, aged 19, garage assistant (Mr ' Dickson), nine charges; Cedrie Brazil Car ley, aged 37, labourer (Mr Hall Skeltori), nine charges-; James Victor Boyd, aged ."'.2, motor driver (Mr Trimmer), six charges; and Reginald Daw!-* son, aged 25, brass-finisher (Mr King) two charges. 1

Goods Worth Over £IOOO Valued at well over £IOOO, the stolen property included an electric range \ refrigerator, a radio set, a carpet" aad a number of other household articles worth £353 17s removed from a bach belonging to Dr R. V. Shaw on ftlje main north road at Orewa. About; 3g of the charges involved the theft of wheels and tyres from motor vehicles During interviews at the detective office between October 10 and Odtober j9 all seven accused made written explanations in connection with thq vaii! ous offences with which the** *ere charged. These were handed in'/as evidence by Detectives J. G. B. llWiter J. Dwan and W. H. Cromwell. . ' A Trip to Orewa

In hifi statement Kelly saifl he was a married man living at Kingsland. He knew a man named "Slim 1 ' Rogers,'who was employed by the Auckland Citv Council as a valuer. In conversation one day Rogers told him tlVat "certain baches at Orewa were gofjd ones to break into as the people/ lived miles away.

About three months agoJboth of them left the city in Rogers' 'car about six o'clock one night with the intention of taking some "stuff" from Dr Shaw'i bach, Kc-lly said. They dijove over in the ferry and up the main, toad to Orewa, . where they broke a window in the bach and went inside. The ■' back- of the car was filled with goods fitom the dwelling,, including an electric fij.ove, a refrigerator, a radio, rugs, blankets, reading lamps, crockery and glassware. "i remember we took everything with the exception of the i furniture and the curtains," the statement continued. "When we arrived (back we drove out to Hogers' farm atj Bombay and left the goods at his bouse-. My share in this 'haul' was £60% which Rogers paid * me by cheque." Articles From Other Baches In supplementary statements Kelly said he made another trip to Orewa about Septembers 25 with Hogers and a man named Phi? Hunter. They broke into two baches /taking blankets, quilts, pillows, glassware, carpets, vases, jan electric rangettls, mats, a heater and rugs from one„' and an electric range : and a radio fr9.nl the other. Kelly said that for some (considerable time lie had ' been associated with Rogers, Hunter and two other/ men. Eric Parris and Jim Boyd. This; association had extended over the pjflist 12 months of more. Charles John Rogers said in his explanation that he was a married man with four children. He ,had a mixed"* farm at Bombay and was also employed as a valuer by the City Council. After first meeting Kelly when he was in the Army he/ had been to Kelly's home at Kingslanii quite a few times. "Stanggling With Mortgages"

"He lias quite a nice home and hj» informed me that he had fully paid for it 'and /that there was a lot of easy money f about," the statement continued. "At the time I was not very financed and had been struggling "with mortgages for years. When Kelly mentioned.' that there was easv money to be picked up I thought I would get some/that, way." Admitting that he was implicated in numerous tyre thefts with Kelly, I'arris and/ Boyd, Rogers said he ,couls not aceonnt for his actions other than it w.As 'his desire to relieve his mortgages ajhd debts. He now realised his mistake ntrtd it' was his desire to assist the Authorities in every way to clean up /the whole matter. Pleas of guilty were entered by all /seven accused and the magistrate committed them to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was renewed in each case.

NEW CHAIRMAN SOUTH BRITISH COMPANY The directors of the South British Insurance Co.. Ltd., yesterday, following the annual meeting, appointed Air Kenneth B. Myers chairman of the board for the ensuing year. In his address to shareholders, tns retiring chairman, Mr V. J. Lamer, welcomed Mr Myers back to the board after an absence of over five years with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and extended congratulations to him upon promotion won while on active service. In reply, Mr Myers thanked shareholders for permitting him to retain his seat on the , board during his absence. CHIEFS WELCOMED (0.C.) ROTORUA, Thursday The three visiting Sainoan chiefs, the Hons. Malietoa, Mata'afa and Tamssese, were the guests of the Maori community at Rorohoro today. Speeches of welcome were made, and pupils of thi Horohoro school presented a _ P ro " gramme of action songs, the visitors contributing three part songs. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE There was an attendance of about SO hers at the annual 'meeting of the Aucjiw® .1 nstires of the Peace Association last mjnThe following officers were elected : ~t r 'vr %f Mr J. B. Paterson: vice-presidents, Mr? Molesworfii, Messrs T. Farrell and J. b#} councillors. Mrs F. McHride, Messrs »• Melvin, C. Wheeler ami f>. < T -Carter: ref- : 1 , ' Mr D. E. Parton; auditor, Mr C. E. Fb»W ! ' solicitor. Mr L. P. Lear.v; delegate* to in' carprill conference, Messrs ,T. B. Paterson. E. Parton and J. Sayegh.

PERSONAL ITEMS Mr !?. A. Taylor, stationmaster at Masterton, has been appointed st-a i master at Huntly. , Mr B. J. Jacobs, Dominion of the Returned Services *^ ssoCia vloT i will pay an official visit to Rotorua week. Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Savage been appointed military secretary or _ Second X.Z.K.F., in place of Lieutenant Colonel R. P. R. McGlnshnn. Mr B. A. Candy, of Ngarua. a dug-* tor Of the New Zealand Co-operate Dairv Co.. Ltd., nndchairman at Mnssey College Board of Governor • turned from Sydney by air yeste . Commander V. E. Creighton, of tj United States Naval Reserve, has J* assigned to the United States Leg , in Wellington as naval attac naval attache for air to replace tain L. R. Gray. Lieutenant - Commissioner ter . Bladin, at present Salvation Arm. ritorial commissioner in -®, 1 ? nrzanibeen appointed director of the sations of the Bed Shield missioner Bladin served m niji n( j vation Army posts in New Zeaia Australia.