BICYCLE STOLEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 58, 25 July 1947, Page 5

BICYCLE STOLEN

YOUNG MAORI’S ACTION INCIDENT AT GISBORNE In the Whakatane Police Court last Wednesday morning a 19-year-old Maori, Bunny Edwards whose home is in Frasertown, near Wairoa, pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolen a bicycle valued at £lO on or about May 22 at Gisborne. Messrs. Lovelock and Christensen J.P.s were on the bench. '

Sergeant Farrell said that accused had been employed in the freezing works at Wairoa, and on the day in question with two other Maoris had appropriated a bicycle each and ridden them to their homes. Accused had retained his, and leaving his job, ridden it through to Ruatoki where he now was. When interviewed by the police he declared that he had bought the machine in Gisborne, but subsequent enquiries had proved this statement false. The Sergeant stated that the theft of bicycles was becoming very prevalent and he urged a heavy sentence to serve as a warning to others. In answer to the Bench, accused .said he had worked in' the freezing, works for two months for £3 -weekly, but considered this not enough so had left. He had done no work for four months. He admitted being before -the court in 1945. In view of Edwards age it was decided to give him a further chance and not to inflict a maximum penalty. Accused was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. An order was also made for the return of the bicycle.