TRESPASSER GAOLED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 80, 15 September 1947, Page 5

TRESPASSER GAOLED

YOUNG MAORI AT HOSPITAL BENCH ISSUES WARNING “This practice must be put down. The hospital authorities are very concerned and the court intends imposing a heavy penalty on all offenders. This being your first offence you will be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of one month.” The above was pronounced from the Bench last Friday when a young eighteen years old Maori, Dave Tawa, pleaded guilty C. S. Armstrong and~ A. ■■‘Tlubbard, J.P.s, to a charge of being without lawful excuse in the domestic quarters attached to the Whakatane Public Hospital on the night of September 2nd. Sergeant Farrell said that for some time past the hospital authorities had had considerable annoyance from young Maoris who prowled around the buildings at night. Previous convictions Apparently had, not had the desired effect and in the present instance accused h'ad been asked to leave but had refused. During the past week he had been there on no less than three occasions and had practically defied the warnings given him. In order to stamp out the practice, the hospital staff had appointed a special officer to remove trespassers and he asked the court to co-operate in the matter of inflicting a substantial penalty. Accused maintained that he had. a legitimate excuse for being on the premises, and denied ever, being told to leave. He was sentenced as above.