IDLE AND DISORDERLY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVI, Issue 7907, 26 September 1929, Page 2

IDLE AND DISORDERLY

SWEDE CONVICTED AT WAIHI COURT DETENTION FOR SEVEN DAYS Speaking volubly in broken English, Frederick Becker, a Swede, G 3 years of age, made a lengthy statement when he appeared before Messrs W. M. Wallnutt and P. G. Brady, J’s.P., in the AVaihi Police Court on Tuesday and was asked how he pleaded to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, with insufficient lawful means of support. Becker said he could not admit that he had been disorderly, though it was true that he had no work. He had been in Auckland for three or four months, digging gardens for poor women at Is an hour; but if

these women had shown “visible means” he would have charged Is Gd an hour. It had been a struggle for him to keep out of the doss house, and from what he could see these institutions were frequented mostly by young and lazy men. He was a shearer’s cook by occupation, and had been in the employ of some of the leading station owners ih Hawke's Bay. He wanted work, and if he could not get it he did not see why he should not ask for a few shillings to assist him. The labour

bureau at Auckland had turned him down dozens of times, but sent (lie young men into the country. . . . Sergeant D. L. Calwell interposed at this stage, when the accused was still holding forth with much feeling, and stated that Becker came to Waihi a couple of days previously. The statements he had made were probably correct, though at the time he was accosted it was evident that he had had some drink. The ser-

geant added that he was willing to assist Becker if possible by finding him temporary work, but thought that a short period of detention would be advisable as the man was run down. In the meantime, he would try to find him work. The Bench agreed that the suggestion of the sergeant would be in the best interests of the accused and ordered his detention in the local lock-up tor seven days.