THEFT CHARGE

Southland Times, Issue 25307, 10 June 1935, Page 7

THEFT CHARGE

UNEMPLOYED MAN ' BOARD’S ASSISTANCE OUTLINED MINISTER EXPLAINS (Per United Press Association.) New Plymouth, June 8. Interviewed in regard to a Press Association message from Auckland concerning the prosecution for theft of an unemployed returned soldier, the Minister of Employment (the Hon. S. G. Smith), after communication with the board’s officer-in-charge at Auckland, said that the case in question was that the man had been on the boards books since 1931, excepting for intervals when he obtained private work. He was a farm hand by occupation and was married with two children. In 1933 he was employed in the Public Works Camp for six months earning £3 a week. In 1934 he was for some time in the County Council camp earning £2 a week and receiving rations. In 1934 he received free issues of blankets and boots. He left that camp last Christmas after receiving his Christmas pay and bonus and went to private work which lasted until March 10, 1935. Then he re-registered, and, at his own request, was placed on sustenance. Country work is available to him with the Public Works Department at £3 a week. The reference, to his being able to afford only twopence worth of milk daily for ten months for his baby gave quite an unfair impression. Assistance was available from unemployment board’s organizations and through private relief organizations. He is receiving from the Unemployment Board, at present, 14 pints of milk a week free. _ Furthermore, the board was always willing to increase its issue of milk to a family in which there are young children when it received from the local branch of the Plunket Society a recommendation that such increase was necessary in the interest of the health of the children. . In common with other relief workers, if he wishes, he can have repairs carried out to his own boots and to the boots of members of his family at the local boot pool which charges, only for the cost of materials used in effecting the repairs and, in necessitous cases, makes no charge at all. Plenty of meat was available to him at a cost of 3jd per lb at the metropolitan relief depot, which was quite near his house. . Free vegetables are also supplied to relief workers who obtain their meat at the depot.

An unemployed man, a returned soldier of unblemished character who stole in order that his wife might have a singlet and new pair of soles for her shoes, received the sympathy of the Magistrate when he appeared in the Police Court at Auckland on a shoplifting charge. \ Accused, whose name the Magistrate ordered to be suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a singlet, a pair of rubber soles and a tie, of a total value of 7/11, the property of Woolworths, Karangahape Road.

“The circumstances of this case are really sad and distressing,” said Mr W. R. McKean, S.M. “I propose to take a course which I do not usually take in shoplifting cases by adjourning the charge until December 6.” Addressing accused, Mr McKean said: “Something will be done to assist you. It is most unfortunate that you should be -here on such a charge.”