BETTER FROM THE OUTSIDE

NZ Truth, Issue 1186, 23 August 1928, Page 8

BETTER FROM THE OUTSIDE

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) IF it had not been that his jaws were busy chewing over some en- * ticing morsel, it is possible that Frederick Sinclair might have burst into song m the strain of "I'm so tired." Happily for him, the front of the dock was railed or it might have happened that Frederick's thirty-eight years of humanity would have toppled headlong on to the orderly's table. As it was, he was able to rest both arms on the rail while he listened to all the discourtesies of Sub- Inspector McCarthy. He was charged with being an idle and disorderly person. The sub-inspector told Magistrate Hun that the weary man m the dock was a bricklayer (when he worked), out not having any bricks to lay, he laid m wait for the Charitable Aid Board to some effect, while his child he laid m the hands of the State. But the police laid for Frederick m turn. He had told some tale about money coming his way from a legacy or something, but whether he had been too tired to go after it did not transpire. His worship, after contemplating Frederick's restful form for some time, while, the prosecuting police officer was verbally deprecating him, said: "Apparently he's not finished his breakfast yet, by the way he keeps on chewing." Then, to the accused: "Have you got something m your mouth?" "No,'? was the answer. But he continued to chew what may, after all, have been only the cud of reflection. A constable with a very confidential tone of voice related something — seemingly — of Frederick's actvities (or lack of them), after which the weary one himself said that he had been for five months m the bush and "under a doctor" a fortnight with some gastric trouble, but he promised to look up work when the weather took up. In fact, he said m reply to a question that he was ready to go to work on Monday. "If you were working m the bush for five months, why didn't ' 'you send something to support. your wife?" asked the sub- inspector. \ Between chews, Frederick replied that things were against him. "There's always something up against you," was the police officer's comment, while Magistrate Hunt contributed: "There'll be six monthsup against you if you don't find work. You'll go up!" Frederick then said his piece. "It's better to be outside, looking m, than inside looking out." Then he turned his bit of gum over and rested again. His worship decided that Fred was better outside, convictihg'arid discharging him, with an. injunction to the, police to. bring, him up if he did not find work. Jaws still working, Frederick retired.