CHARGE OF VAGRANCY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5290, 22 June 1928, Page 2

CHARGE OF VAGRANCY.

STRANGER ARRESTED AT PAEROA. A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT. A niiddle-age’d labourer named Bert Pyke appeared before <Mr H. J. Hare. J.P., at the- local Police Court yesterday mqrning charged with drunkenness'in Belmont Road on Wednesday, and .with being an- idle and disorderly person having insufficient lawful means of support. Constable -McClinchy stated that Pyke, who was a stranger to the town, had been working'for the Public Works Department at Coromandel. On being paid off he had come to Paeroa, where he had' been drinking heavily and generally making a nuisance of himself. He had also worried the local staff of the Public Works. Department. contending that the department owed h.im money for work done. The police had made inquiries, and! it had been found that the o-nly money avalable w.as required for accused’s board- while at Coromandel and an allotment that had been'sent to his wife. He had spent his wages in drink, ami -had tried to obtain board and lodging without payment. In pleading guilty to both chargesaccused expressed regret for his conduct.

On the charge of drunkenness Pyke was convicted and discharged, and on the- vagrancy charge he was convicted and sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment -at Thames. A first offender also appeared on l a charge of drunkenness at Paeroa on Wednesday evening, and was convicted and fined ss.