MISPLACES HOSPITALITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 7

MISPLACES HOSPITALITY.

•THE.CASE OF. CAPTAIN,SIMONS. " LEGISLATORS PAY THE FINE. "Will, t-ho Government take steps to sea that adequate recognition is. given to the brave action of Probationers Johnson and Poole, of the Police J)epartment,'who recently took advantago of the hospitality of an old ago pensioner in. Wellington in order to secure a conviction for sly grog-selling?" By a question so worded; Mr. Poland, . M.P. for Ohinemuri, yesterday drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the case of Captain John Simons, who was on Monday, convicted and fined £3, with 7s: costs, for . alleged. sly grog-selling on Adelaide Road. Tlio . facts were (continued Mr. Poland) that the accused was accosted by two police probationers. They told the old man . [ that they, were dying of thirst, and wanted a drink., 'After much • persuasion, the. accused went' to his dwelling and got'some drink, for which the probationers. insisted upon paying. Being ; ■■, very hard up, the old man was induced V • to accept 2s. 6d. On account of his ; hospitality, he was, however, brought . boforo the Court, and on'tho evidence '. ef tho probationers fined. He might ' . add that when they read of the case in ; the press 'various members of Parliament within five minutes subscribed the amount of the-fine and paid it. He t would like to aslc tho Premeir whether it was intended to give the probationers half the amount of the fine in the circumstances. . . ; Mr. ■ Greenslado expressed the hope that the..two probationers concerned ~ would never reach the police force. Mr. J. P. Luke said he had known ' the old; man since 1874, and in his opinion ho was the last person in tho world to lend, himself to sly grog- ' selling. ..; ... . Prime Minister said hohad not noticed the' newspaper reports of the y case, but lie woujdhavo. inquiry made. Accompanying the receipt sent tc Mr. Simons.in regard to the fine was the following letter:— .; •; ! 'Dear'',Sir, —I have pleasure on behalf of'many members of Parlia- , * ment in "forwarding you a receipt ' : for the fifre and Court expenses in- ; flicted yesterday, on account of your misplaced. hospitality. "The amount of ,£3 7s. was collected in five minutes, and not a : single refusal was met with. ~ " "We'beg to express our sym- , '. ■':. pathy with you in your trouble, .; and trust'it will not bo allowed to interfere 'with your receipt of your '. pension.,^ •i -"Oil' bohalf of tho subscribers, • ' "Yours sincerely, ('..'■■■ :-} "H. POLAND."