OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 205, 28 August 1940, Page 5

OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR

YOUNG MAORI CHARGED MAXIMUM PENALTY IMPOSED Messrs G. A. Brabant and R. W. 'Schofield, Justices of the Peacei were •on the Bench on Monday morning when Rawiri Merito, aged 22, appeared to plead guilty to behaving in an offensive manner in view of a place, to wit the Strand. Sergeant M, Farrell ; police prosecutor, said that at 10.45 p.m. on Saturday night accused was seen to be behaving in the manner set out "in the charge,.sheet. He was sober %at the time. "The practise is a •source of annoyance to the business said Sergeant Farrell, this is the fourth case within 'a fortnight. It also makes for some inconvenience for the police officers, "who have to spend hours watching." 'Adding that the imposition of the 'full penalty was called for, Sergeant ""Farrell asked for the assistance of ithe Bench in suppressing this nature >&t offence. "It's a beastly sort of offence," was the Bench's observation. "Last time .-a fine of £3 was inflicted and a good issued. We have got to 'help the police to stop this sort of 'tiling. A young man like you ought "to know better. You will be lined : £5, the maximum,, in default one •month's imprisonment in the WhaSfcatane Gaol."