ASSAULT ON LICENSEE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 8

ASSAULT ON LICENSEE

DISTURBANCE AT NORMANBY. £lO FINE IMPOSED ON MAORI. After throwing sandwiches at the housemaid of the Commercial Hotel, Normanby, Manihera Hori, also known as Massey Hori, went into the diningroom of the hotel on Friday night, shortly after 7 o’clock, and created a disturbance. He used bad language before several men and women and after being asked to leave the hotel and refusing he was forcibly ejected from the premises. In doing so, the licencee of the hotel, Thomas Herbert Gray, was assaulted.

Tho sequel was heard in the Hawera Magistrate’s Court on Saturday before Messrs. G. H. Buckeridge and R. S. Sage, Justices of the Peace, when Hori was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment, for assaulting the licensee. On charges of being found drunk in a public place and for refusing to quit the Commercial Hotel, he was convicted and discharged. He was allowed 14 days in which to pay the fine. Prosecuting for the police, Sergeant J. Henry said that Hori was in the hotel before 6 p.m. in an intoxicated condition. On returning at 7.10 p.m. for some tea, he was told by the licensee’s wife that he was too late as the staff had gone off duty. She did, however, make him some cheese sandwiches and a cup of tea. While the proprietor was in another part of the house, Hori threw the sandwiches at the housemaid. Then he entered the dining-room and used bad language before a group of men and women. One man tried to pacify him, but though requested to leave, Hori refused. The licensee then attempted to eject him by force from the building, and in doing so was assaulted. Constable Pidgeon, stationed at Normanby, was in another part of the district at the time, and two constables were sent out from Hawera. In the meantime, Constable Pidgeon returned and arrested Hori on a charge of drunkenness. The conduct of some of the Maoris at Normanby, said the sergeant, was disgraceful.

GENERAL ITEMS.

Politics Avoided. The Westport Borough Council asked the Hawera County Council on Saturday for support of a resolution sent to the Prime Minister protesting against the extension of the life of Parliament. “I think we had better keep out of politics,” suggested Cr. T. A. Winks. The chairman (Cr. J. B. Murdoch) agreed that the council was a happy family without dealing in politics. The letter was received. Incidence of Infection Low. No cases of infectious disease were reported in the Hawera county during July, stated the inspector of health to the county council on Saturday. The incidence of infection was low and had been so for some considerable time. Assistance to Unemployed. A total of 37 registered unemployed families, on stand-down week, were assisted at Hawera on Saturday morning when the following list of commodities was issued: 191 b tea, 1701 b sugar, 2441 b flour, 371 b oatmeal, 251 b sago, 301 b barley, 441 b butter, 69 loaves bread (coupons), 371 b cheese and sandwiches and cakes donated by the Hawera Technical High School Parents’ Association.

Drawn Hockey Game. In a women’s hockey match at Hawera on Saturday, Rovers and Auroa drew 3-all. Auroa led 3-1 at half time, but good work by the Rovers’ side saw it pull up in the second spell. The game was not exciting and play was rather ragged at times.

NEW REGULATIONS DISCUSSED. OPINION OF MOTORING BODY. Tlie proposed new amendments to the Motor Regulations Act as outlined in a lengthy circular received by the Autom6bile Association (South Taranaki) at the monthly meeting on Friday night found favour, with one or two exceptions, with the majority of members. Particular gratification .was expressed that by a change in the regulations a motorist would not be guilty until proved innocent of speeding but that he would be innocent until proved guilty. The provision of a 48-hour period for the production of a motor license, a ruling that an offending notorist must be informed immediately or within seven days of his offence and the control of pedestrian traffic were amendments considered by members as being particularly necessary. One thing the meeting was not in favour of. That is the clause imposing imprisonment for three months for negligent driving. Members considered that the term of imprisonment should be entirely at the discretion of the magistrate hearing the case. The 30 miles per hour limit in speed in built up areas, such as towns, was also opposed on the grounds that on such roads as the Hutt Road at Wellington and the concrete roads of the Auckland province, where there was little danger through speeding, a definite limit would only bring in a considerable revenue to zealous traffic officers. DRAMA OF KIDNAPPERS. DOROTHEA WIECK STARRING. A film of an entirely new kind with its central theme founded upon the kidnapping racket so prevalent a few months ago in America, is “Miss Fane’s Baby is Stolen,” which will screen at the Hawera Opera House to-night. The story graphically describes the kidnapping of the baby boy of a famous film star. The distracted mother is at first averse to informing the police, fearing that if the net is drawn too closely her baby will be killed. Eventually she evokes the aid of the police, and modem science in the form of the radio, the aeroplane, and the Press—in fact, the whole power of the United States Government and people—is called upon to hunt down the kidnappers. The rescue of the child by the plucky wife of a small farmer in her ramshackle old ear, the pursuit by the kidnappers, and the eventual rounding up of the miscreants by a posse of motor police, make a series of rapid-moving scenes which are thrilling in the extreme. The supporting films are outstanding and include the latest news reel, Souvenirs and comedy.