PRISON FOR TRAMP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 298, 16 December 1931, Page 12

PRISON FOR TRAMP.

Had Done Six Hours’ Work in Two Years. (Special to the “Star.”) ASHBURTON, December 15. Alfred Kirk, aged forty-six, who appeared before Mr W. H. Rundle, J.P., and Mr R. Clark, J.P., at the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court to-day, on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, stated that for two years he had begged his food and clothing, and during this period he had done only six hours’ work. Senior-Sergeant H. Martin said accused was arrested in the Tinwald district, where he had been living in different huts. Alexander Prentice, secretary of the Hospital Board, said Kirk had frequently called at the board’s office for charitable relief and criticised the British race and New Zealand people in particular. Yesterday he was given an order for rations and was asked to do two hours’ work. Later, witness was advised that accused refused to do anything and stated that he did not want the board’s order and he did not want its work. Accused said his reason for not working was that he had left his swag in a hut about two and a half miles from Ashburton and he was afraid someone might steal it. He said he had asked for work all over the island and could not get it. In reply to the Bench, accused said he was not registered as being unemployed. He was sentenced to one month’s hard labour.