TRAINING FARM BOY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 6 March 1913, Page 4

TRAINING FARM BOY.

FATHER PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE'. Yesterday afternoon a boy of 15' years was taken before the Juvenile Court on a charge of his having stolen £3 worth of grapes from James Bell, of Hataitai, and a handbag containing two rings, valued at .£l2 95., belonging to Gertrude Olive Coleman. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.. was on the Bench, and Sub-Inspector Sheehan. represented the police. Sub-Inspector Sheehan stated to the Court that the boy had' on a proyious occasion been committed to the u'ereroa Training Farm, and was at present out on license. The Education Department had, however, recalled the lad to. th« training farm, and the would, therefore, if the Court consented, He withdrawn.

The father of the boy objected to th« request of the police to withdraw rho 'proceedings, stating that he w.'shed to call evidence to prove that the boy was innocent. His Worship staled that he would not reduce the proceedings to a farce and put the country to the expense of a criminal trial. The boy would have to go back to the farm. The father asked that the case should be dismissed. He declared that the proceedings were a farce. llis Worship: You can make your re- ' marks in another quarter, The father said that it was disgraceful to allow th« chhrgo to lw withdrawn when he was present to prove the child's innocence. .He would take the matter (i to Parliament.