TWOPENCE FOR THE POLICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 7

TWOPENCE FOR THE POLICE.

EX-PRISONER’S WAIL. He came from the direction of the Police Station. He claimed a seat at the rear of the tram shelter, and there he sat until long past mid-da\. pondering seriously. Now and then he made a casual observation to another of the leisured gentry who have reserves on the seats in the vicinity. He was gazing at the Post Office clock when he spoke. “ Two pounds and ten pence 1 had.” he exclaimed meditatively. “ Two pounds and eight pence I have got. I have been robbed, I tell you.” The others felt their pockets self consciously. “ Robbed." lie continued. “ T have been fleeced.” They pressed for an explanation. “Robbed!” lie repeated vehemently. “ When they took me to Paparua they took my money—two pounds and tenpenee. When they returned it—two pounds and eightpence.” “An error!” broke in one of the party. “ I say an error. The Minister of Justice ” “The Minister of Justice he exclaimed the perturbed one. ‘ T have been robbed." “A stamp,” he shouted. “ A stamp. They made me give them a stamp—a receipt for mv own money.” The action of the police authorities in demanding a stamped receipt on return of moneys taken from prisoners on admittance was, said the embittered one, very unfair. “ And,” he asked, “ why should 1 have to pay for the stamp on a receipt for money that is already my own? It is a principle ”