A Warning to "Wharfies."

NZ Truth, Issue 570, 20 May 1916, Page 6

A Warning to "Wharfies."

The first . lot consisted of William Jensen (Mr. H. F: CKLeary), and David: Pettersen (Mr. P. W. Jad£son), a brace of wharfles, who were Indicted on a charge of cargo broaching. They pleaded not guilty to an imputation of having filched eight bottles of whisky and one ditto of beer, the same being the property at ■; the Anchor Foundry Shipping Co* dreamStances show that the two accused had been stowing cargo away and had stowed some of it into their own Interiors, which resulted' In them being found under the influence, and guilty. The broachers said (per counsel) that they were prepared to I plead .guilty to a charge of stealing, one at whisky and one of beer, Tbia was accepted by the twelve good men and true who registered "guilty" against the two accused. • ( Mr. Meredith (for the Crown) mentioned that there had been a matter of £2000 per annum lost by the three principal shipping companies m Wei-? ilngton alone, and it was necessary to '. MAKE A SAD EXAMPLE of some of the pilferers.' His Honor said that there was only one day to deal with such pilfering; make the Wharf Laborers' Union pay for it (even if it was done by a steward, presumably). v He said that ho 1 had some difficulty m. granting probation. The little lot before him ought to<j bring 14 years' hard for taking stuff from a vessel at the wharf. Hpwr. ever, ho decidod that he would grant them probation, seeing that they had -* admitted the crime. Ho thought that the crime waft- attributable to the all-, preserving spirit— alcohol; it It had not been bo he, would not have con- . sidererl probation for a moment ■ But, If any other lots came before him for this claHtf of .offence he* would not grant probation^' v 'Tt6u fell* into trouble through your love of liquor, otherwise,* I ' ' '! ■■"■■' ■ '["■' | WOULD NOT GRANT YOU §■; PROBATION,' 1 .k \i Bald his Honor, "if it can be proved that you have taken any drink or. any alcohol, 1 Hholl Bontenc^ you .to a term of imprlabnm'ent," said he. Prisoners were granted probation for tho period of 12 monthis, ■ and wero ordered to pay the sum f of £5 each towards the cost of tho prosecution.