CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26197, 6 July 1946, Page 3

CITY POLICE COURT

—. Friday, July 5 (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) Remanded in Custody George McCorkindale, a labourer, aged 64, was charged with trespassing on the property of his wife, from whom he is separated, and also with a breach of a prohibition order.—Senior Sergeant D. Vaughan said that the defendant was separated form his wife in February, 1945, but since that date, on several occasions, had gone to his wife’s house while she was absent and had removed a quantity of clothes and blankets, which he had sold. He had paid nothing under the maintenance order against him. He had a long list of previous convictions, most of them as the result of drink, and had been sent to Roto Roa on three occasions.—The defendant was remanded in custody for one w-eek to enable the police to recover his wife's property. Ship Deserter Charged

“ The practice of ship desertion is becoming a racket in this country,” said Mr A. N, Haggitt, who represented the shipping company in a charge of desertion from the Nicania at Dunedin on July 2, preferred against Wilho Armas Grondahl, a Finnish seaman, aged 36, Grondahl was also charged with being a prohibited immigrant, in that he entered New Zealand without a permit. In this charge the Collector of Customs was represented by Mr G. Haigh.—Chief Detective T. Y. Hall said that the accused could not be found when his ship sailed for overseas on July 2.—Because of ship desertion there were many undesirable persons remaining in the country, said Mr Haggitt, who stated that he had been instructed by his clients to press for the maximum penalty. There had been three desertions from the Nicania, said counsel.—ln explanation, the defendant said that he had missed his ship through being drunk, and all his gear had gone with the ship.— The magistrate said that he could only repeat his previous comment that the practice of ship desertion in the country was becoming too common, and shipipng companies were being caused no end of trouble. The accused would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on the first charge, and on the count of being a prohibited immigrant no fine would be impos d, but he would order the accused to be removed from New Zealand, and pending such removal he would be detained in Paparua Prison for any period not exceeding six months.