HARD-LABOUR SENTENCE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 169, 4 August 1937, Page 6

HARD-LABOUR SENTENCE

Ship's Fireman who Assaulted Non-Unionist "N.Z. WILL NOT STAND IT" "In New Zealand the community ■will not stand for this sort oi thing, and the sooner mcn visiting these shores understand that the hetter it -will be for all concerned," commented Sir John Reed in the Supreme Court at Napier this morn.'ng when he sentenced an AusTralian ship's fireman to 15 months' iraprisonment with hard laboui for assaulting a non-union seaman so as to cause actual bodily harm. The deffendant was Sidney Patterson Fairhall, and the assault occurred on the vessel Kekerangu while she was at the Napier Breakwater in May. John Kapauaroa, a Maori, was sentenced to 15 months' reformative detention on each of two charges .of breaking and entering at Wairoa. These were the only two prisoners for sentence. "Up to this time the prisoner Fairhall has been a hard-working seaman, and has been supporting his wife and m other. His wife is m a serious condition of health and, I am informed, had to undergo a serious operation, ' ' said Mr. S. H. Morrison. "The effect of this conviction will be that Fairhall 's seaman 's licence will be taken from him and his means of livelihood as a seaman will be gone. " 4 ' The jury, by its verdict, has found that, although you caused actual bodily harm to Brocksopp, you did not set out to cause grievous bodily harm," said his Honour. 4 1 However, no-one hearing the evidence can doubt that you did make a brutal and unprovoked attack. . 4 4 The injuries you inflicted while remaining unscathed yourself show that you made a brutal attack on a man obviously your inferior in fighting strength," his^ Honour added. "I will take into account the fact that you Lave spent some two and a-half months in gaol, but the offence must be met witli a substantial penalty. You will be sentenced to-15 months' imprisonment with hard labour. John Kapuruaroa, a Wairoa Maori, who had pleaded guilty to charges of breaking, entering and theft by night and breaking and entering by day wilh intent to commit a crime, said, when asked if he had anything to say: "I simply admit that this is the truth, this is the whole truth, and I still plead guilty. That is all I have to sav. ' ' 4 4 You have been previously convicted for ' theft, ' and have been treated leniently, ' ' said his Honour in imposing sentence of 15 months' reformative detention on each charge, the' sentenees to be concurrent. "The Probation Officr reports that you have admitted to him that you cannot help stealir.g, and he agrees with you. He suggests that the best method of cure would be a substantial period of reformative detention, and I agree with that. ' '