EX-SOLDIER’S SENTENCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4924, 11 January 1926, Page 2

EX-SOLDIER’S SENTENCE.

ALIY LOSE LI FE PENSION. INDIGNATION AT ROTORUA. ROTORUA, January 8. On New Year’s Eve Thomas Duncan Burns, a pakeha, ,and a Maori named Murray were arrested at Rotorua, on charges of disorderly conduct when drunk. They were brought up before a J P. on Saturday, January 2, and both pleaded guilty. Both men were first offenders, and ,the J.P. sentenced Burns, to a month’s imprisonment, but only fined Murray £2, although both were charged with the same offence. Burns is a disabled ex-soldier, who is in receipt of a pension, and through--out the week feeling has- run very high in the town at .the sentence, and this feeling came to a head last night, when a public open-air meeting was held under the auspices, of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. 'The meeting was largely attended, and the Mayor, Mr C. H. Clinkard. presided. The Mayor informed the meeting that he had made full inquiries into the matter before consenting to preside, a,nd after making those inquiries he felt it his duty .to preside and join with the R.S.A. in protesting against the injustice of the sentence which had been passed on Burns, not only owing to Burns being a disabled ex-soldier, but also being a citizen of the town.

The Rev. Allen and Captain W. Sumner also spoke on the matter, and the following restitution was proposed - by Mr F. White, president of the R.S.A., and seconded by Captain Sumner, vice-president, R.S.A.: “Tha,t this meeting of representative citizens of Rotorua,, in vie,w of the severe sentense imposed on Thomas Duncan Burns, a returned soldier, severely wounded on active service, and also a first offender, respectfully urges the Minister for Justice .to secure his immediate release and remit balance of sentence.” This was carried unanimously. Burns is in receipt of a disablement pension for life, and this will cease if -the conviction stands.- Meanwhile Mr F. F. Hockley’, M.P. for Rotorua, has the matter in hand, and the Auckland R.S.A. is also taking the matter up.