PATRIARCHS AND BOOZE.

NZ Truth, Issue 266, 30 July 1910, Page 6

PATRIARCHS AND BOOZE.

Should Michael Lose His Pension?

The white bair and matted grey whiskers of Michael Hogan were , bowed m sorrow m Hie- Christchurch dock O n Monday, when he was charged with being boozed whilst m charge of a quaat'n'etl and the aged vehicle which served as a family carriage. Michael has a hooked ncse, and with a flowing garment rm-ght be mistaken for a resurrected patriarch of old. He and the missus must have met hospitable friends m town, for- both were blijthery as I>he experienced rcoke tried to find its way home via , the hospital. .Nevertheless, Michael denied shikkur.

Copper Regan mentioned ttie deplorable condition of the aged twain, due to an overdose of lions, and said that the vehicle was occupying the tram line when he came along/ Country prads generally take the middle of tie road, a-ad m this case; the neddy would probably have exhibited considerable astonishment had it met a tram car at the comer — that is, ii it retained its sensations long enough to feel astonished. Michael and missus were so obviously dead t o the world that the telephone was freely used by passers-by, and toe bobby stalked his prey and secured the whole contraption. The missus was liberated on bail, but Michael put m Sunday meditating m the booby hatch. Peeler Bropks, who saw -the venerable but un venerated couple brought into *ne station, instantly diagnosed the complaint as one of plain beer.

"Well, I couldn't be drunk if 1 never touched it," commented Michael, who said he didn't want to give evidence.

Here an interesting point demanded attention. The ancient' one is an old age pensioner, and he was convicted and discharged for drunkenness on March 31 last.

It seemed to Magistrate Bailey that he would have to forfeit the* old buster's pension. There was no help for it.

The Sub-Inspector suggested that the

\' present charge was laid under another i section, which provides a special penalty £ for drunkenness while m charge of a Carj;> Mne and vehicle. In that section there was ( no mention of a previous conviction. Vhr. -doddering accused was not charged ynf,h J .-« 'drunkenness, having been once prev.vojjtfjiy convicted of drunkenness within. - six months."

•:■ Nevertheless, his Worship coufr/n't get away from the fact that the -man bad been convicted of excessive swaofc m March last, and, after consideration, he decided to convict and discivarge the accused, but reserved consideration of the , point whether the pension of Michael should or should not be forfeited for six months. On Wednesday Magistrate Bailey said lie had considered the qjuestiom, arid there could be no 'doubt that drunkenness whilst, an charge of a horse and cart constituted a second oifence, of drunkenness under the Act, and th* 0 !d man's certificate woild have to cancelled. "We • magistrates," said, 'bis- Worship, "do not like to cancel t5y jSe pension certificates, ,and there is of/ > n an outcry because we do so. The/ as t time I did so there was a protest. j n the newspapers ; but really m cases /^K-e this we have got no option." fThe certificate was ordered to be can--c^.ed for six months.