A SOLDIER FARMER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9790, 13 October 1917, Page 4

A SOLDIER FARMER

BEFORE THE COURT REMARKS BV THE CHIEF JUSTICE. ■ In dealing with a prisoner who camo before him yesterday for sentence tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) made some remarks indicating the necessity lor some discrimination being exercised in regard to the returned soldiers who aro put on tho land.

Tho case was that of Edward Howe Shore (aged 21), who had been convicted of false pretences at Palmerston North by selling articles which had been mortgaged. Mr P. W. Jackson, who appeared for the prisoner, said ho, was a returned soldier, and was tho lessee of some land from tho Commissioner of Crown Lands. , His Honour remarked that the case seemed to be ono of the Government putting a man on the land who hau no experience, no sense of the value of money, and no common sense. Ho had acted in a most foolish manner. Mr Jackson wont on to explain that there was a mortgage to tho extent ot £4O. Tho prisoner sold a portion ot the security—a trap and harness, tor £lO, and with that and other money ho had purchased two sows and a litter of pigs. By doing' so ho tnought ho had replaced one security by auoHonour; show s the man has no common sense.” . Mr Jackson: "Ho is only young and he acted in ignorance. 1 ■ u 3 d ® r . the Commissioner of Crown Lands has possession of tho pigs, so that the security i s probably greater than cv cr. , Mr Macassey (Crown Prosecutor). “That is not so." ' ' „ His Honour: “Sows must he very valuable if they are . wo r^:. £^X° h he Mr Jackson: “However, might he not have the opportunity of making & any deficiency?” Hc/cnt away with the main body of the Expeditionar jlis °Honour: “We cannot take that as an excuse. Because a man has gone to the front and that is no reason why he should be ed to commit as many crimes ; as he pleases. Evidently the Crown authorities thought him- a man of common sense or would not have Jackson: “Probably ho bad a S °ffis C Honour: “A man cannot become a farmer simply by having a good character. A man ought fo know something about land and have common sense. I think the host thmg n to adjourn this case and give the primmer an opportunity of paying hack part of the money obtained under th mortgage on two yearn’ probation. ! shall adjourn the case for 18 niontns to see how he gets on.. If ho commits any crime he if liable to he called «PIn any case the police must present him in eighteen months. ’ . , It may bo explained that Shore as left his farm and is engaged on homo service-