FATHER XMAS, LAW-BREAKER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12363, 5 February 1926, Page 7

FATHER XMAS, LAW-BREAKER

NEW ROLE FOR SANTA CLAUS V

Father Christmas has been praised and blamed—for many things in this world, hut it is fairly safe to say that he has never before been the cause of a court case. Strange as it may seem, that was exactly what happened at the Lower Hutt Police Court. John Campbell was tho defendant, who was alleged to have been the cause of tho street obstruction. The police stated that quite 150 children were collected outside defendant’s shop, from which someone, apparently Santa Claus, was throwing toys among the crowd. ’ Mr C. R. Barrett appeared for Mr Campbell, and Senior-Sergeant McKelvie for tne police. Constable Frost stated that he had warded the defendant for the last five years about obstructing the footpath. Mr Barrett, for the defendant, said that he himself was not a family man, but that ho had sufficient imagination to realise that young children always looked forward to seeing Father Christmas, and went on to say that if Father Christmas was barred from coming to Mr Chmphell’s store (to which he journeyed each year) parents would take their children into Wellington for their Christmas treat, thereby doing harm to Lower Hutt business. After evidence had been heard, the magistrate said the offence was not a serious one, and no fine would lie inflicted. He would merely order defendant to pay tho costs of the prosecution.