BORROWED BARROW

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20374, 3 July 1934, Page 8

BORROWED BARROW

Relief Worker Did Not Return It.

Edgar Arthur Barbarel, a relief worker, borrowed a wheelbarrow while employed by the New Brighton Borough Council on a job at Rawhiti Domain. His excuse was that he wanted to do some gardening, but when the barrow was not returned after a fortnight the police took action and this morning Barbarel appeared before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., charged with the theft of the barrow, the property of the council, and valued at £l. He pleaded guilty and was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. Sub-Inspector Powell said that the accused had been by the New Brighton Borough Council on relief work at Rawhiti Domain. A number of barrows wefre used on the job, including a wooden one. The foreman discovered that the barrow was missing. A constable went to the accused’s house and found the barrow in his possession. When questioned, Barbarel said that he had borrowed the barrow to do some gardening, and had intended to return it. He was moved to another job, however, and did not have time to do so. The accused had kept the barrow for a fortnight. “He has a list, but has not been before the Court since 1931,” said the sub-inspector Barbarel said that it was the habit of the relief workers to borrow articles from the job. He wanted to do a bit o£ gardening, and' had intended to return the barrow.

Sub-Inspector Powell: The foreman has informed me that quite a number of articles—mainly shovels—have been taken from jobs and not returned. The prosecution is brought as a warning to others.

The Magistrate: Accused has a list, mainly of minor offences, but it is three years since he has been before the Court. I think it will be sufficient if he is convicted and ordered to come up for seritence if called upon within six months.