NOT AN OFFENCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 288, 30 July 1932, Page 5

NOT AN OFFENCE

(Press Assri.-

RELIEF /NEGLIGEE / LOIN-CLOTH NOT LEGALLY/7 REGARDED AS / INDECENT NO DISORDERLY CONDU'CT

/ — — — i -By Telegraph— Copyright )

WELLINGTON, Friday. Charles Perrin, who appearted reeently in Willis Street clad only in a loin cloth and shoes, was declared by Mr. Page, S.M., to-day, in a res'erved j decision, not have xommitted an of- I fence. The charge was of behaving | in a disorderly manner. Mr.. Page held that while the appearance of a person in a grotesque costume in th'e public streets might cause some excitement, that in itself, in the absence of other circumstances, did not constitute disorderly behaviour. Save for the fact that he was clad thus defendant's conduct was in no way riotous or disorderly. His presence on the streets in grotesque garb would no doubt attract some attention, and might tend to cause a number of the public to follow him. The same might be said of the methods quite commonly adopted for th'e purpose of advertisement. One occasionally saw, for example, a clown in full dress paraded through the streets to advertise a travelling circus, or perhaps a bevy of young people clad in South • Sea Island costume paraded to advertise a visiting picture. To come within the section of the Act quoted, he thought something more was needed, something in the nature of noisy, quarrelsome, abusive or unruly behaviour disturbing to public peace nor did h'e think the garb he was wearing could be held to be an indecent one so as to bring defendant within the provision of the Act relating to public decency. Boxers and wrestlers regularly appeared and performed in public more scantily clad than was defendant. ,