GIVEN A CHANCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 622, 29 August 1933, Page 5

GIVEN A CHANCE

MAN ORDERED TO LEAVE TOWN BY AFTERNOON TRAIN DRUNKEN AND DISORDERLY Before Messrs W. L. Richards and. S. J. Hale, Mustices of the Peace. yesterday morning a lahourer name.d. William MpAlister, aged 55 yearSj was convicted and discharged -for drunkenness and idle and disorderly conduct, and ordered td_ lOave town the- same day. Evidence of having received eomplaints that accused had ma.de a nuisance of himself in Tutanekai Street on Saturday evening by accosting people whilst in a drunken condition Was given by Gonstable A. Andrew, who said that he had eventually arrested McAlister after he had refu,sed to take notice of a warning. Accused had done no wo.rk since August 15 and had no money when arrested. He had been in custody since Saturday evening. Too Old For Forestry Pleading guilty to the first charge, but not guilty to the second, McAlister said that he had over 27 years constant employment and had come into Rotorua from the State Forestry two days ago and paid his way. He had intended leaving the town that afternoon, and his fare was to be paid by the Returned Soldiers' Assbciation if money he was expecting did not arrive in time. He had left the forestry owing to his age being against himj as he could not keep up with the younger men in the camps. He expressed regret for the trouble in which he was involved and asked for a chance, saying that although his record was not too good, drink had been the cause of his downfall. Constable Roberts asked that accused he ordered to leave the town by the afternoon train. Remarking that accused was the type of man who made a nuisanee of himself and who was not wanted in the town, the bench said that it had decided to convict and discharge him on the understanding that he left the town limmediately. If he did not do so he would be again brought before the court and _sentenced.