RELIEF MAN TAKES HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1932, Page 8

RELIEF MAN TAKES HOUSE

“GROSSLY IMPERTINENT” ACTION. ‘ STRATFORD COURT ACTION. Finding that he could not get a house for his wife and family, Thomas Buckley, a Stratford unemployed man,, took possessibn of a railway house. His action resulted in l his being charged at the Stratford Court yesterday with trespassing. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant J .Power explained that on July 6 Buckley’s daughter inquired about the house and secured the key. Buckley took possession and advised the Railway Department that he had done so. He was still in the house. Counsel for Buckley said the fact that the department had the houses and would not let them below a certain figure was nothing but a scandal. He said that efforts were being made to persuade the department to let the houses to unemployed as long as they paid a certain amount in cash and worked off the balance for the department. Another man had taken one of the houses and was still in it, and a third had done the same thing. The department had accepted work from him and counsel asked if the magistrate would stand the case down till next court day, when further information regarding the houses would probably be received from Wellington. “There is no need for me to stand this down,” said Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M. “It was grossly impertinent of this man to enter the house, and if others have done the same they should be charged, too; the fact that the houses are the property of the Railway Department does not alter the case.” Buckley was convicted and ordered to {eave the house, the question of penalty being reserved. “I’d rather have the penalty settled now, even if I have to do three months,” Buckley stated. Mr. Tate declined to alter his decision and advised Buckley that he had better give up possession of the house.

PERSONAL. Mrs. R. Aylward left yesterday to spend a holiday with relatives at Oust, Canterbury. She was accompanied on the journey south by Mrs. H. Talbott, who is returning to'Christchurch after visiting friends in Taranaki. Mr. and Mrs. A. Gaw, of Waitara, are visiting Stratford. Mr. and Mrs. H. Botcher are visiting friends at Taihape. The Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, Industries and Commerce, returned to Wellington yesterday after spending the week-end at Stratford. Air. Masters will open the winter show at Christchurch on Saturday.

GENERAL ITEMS. Judgment for plaintiffs by default in the following undefended civil cases was entered at the Stratford Court yesterday by Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M.; R. H. White and Co., Ltd. v. R. H. Godwin, £3 19s (costs £1 3s 6d): E. R. L. Batten v. F. Price, £3 14s (£1 3s 6d); C. R. AlcCartie v. Rangi Bell, £2 12s lOd (£1 8s Cd); J. Petrie v. S. A. Ward, £33 6s 4d (£4 Is 6d); Taranaki Chain Stores v. F. Hodge, 15s 4d (8s); E. Pridham v. M. Radich, £9 5s (£1 10s 6d). The Stratford Unemployment Committee in accordance with an instruction from the board decided last night that the payments in future will be divided over four weeks. During shunting operations yesterday mornino- a waggon was derailed at the Stratford station. Men with jacks were quickly on the scene and in a short time the waggon was replaced.

According to records taken in Stratford, July was an unusually dry month, only 2.23 inches of rain having fallen, compared with 14.46 in July, 1932. Last month rain fell on only 14 days, while during the corresponding month of 1931 rain fell on 26 days. They were very light falls last month, six days recording but one point each. The heaviest fall of 1.21 inches was experienced on the 9th.

That a courthouse is not a place of entertainment was impressed upon the onlookers at the Stratford Court yesterday when a case involving the theft of a cask of wine was being heard. Every now and then giggles and guffaws of mirth would break out at the rear of the court while evidence was being taken. “If there is any more giggling, out you’ll go,” Mr. Tate said after a burst of laughter from the rear of the courtroom. “This case is one which may result in the defendants getting lona- terms of imprisonment and is therefore a serious matter. This is not a theatre,”