‘VICTIMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT’

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1928, Page 7

‘VICTIMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT’

MAGISTRATE'S SCATHING COMMENT SHOCKING PLIGHT OF FAMILY. (By Wire—Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. Another phase of the unemployment problem was reflected in the Police Court to-day, when Allister Ernest MacDonald, aged 40, an electrical wirer, and his wife, Lois MacDonald, appeared charged with being idle and disorderly. Describing the case as being a most unfortunate one, Sub-Inspector McCarthy said the accused had five children. They had no means of support and had been put out of their house on to the street with their children, whose ages ranged from four years te a baby in arms. They had gone to Orakei, where they had 'been living. The man had thrown a sheet over a wire, making a sort of tent which sheltered the infante. The magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt): I have had three separate accounts of these people. It seems the man is too lazy to get out of his own road. He won’t take work when it is offered him. He won’t do anything, so I am told. Pleading not guilty, the man and woman said they were unemployment victims. “I have tried to get work but have failed,” the husband said. The magistrate: You had better try again, and try hard; otherwise I will «ive you work in Mount Eden. “He is, I understand, a particularly good electrical wirer,” said the sub-in-spector. The magistrate: Yes, but he has it in his head that he should not touch any other sort of work. He will find he will have to get out of that and get out of it pretty quickly. 'Sub-Inspector McCarthy: He does not seem to realise ho has a wife and five children to feed, but it is no good imprisoning him now. The magistrate considered the best thing to do in the circumstances was to adjourn the case for a week.