SEARCH FOR WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 883, 29 January 1930, Page 10

SEARCH FOR WORK

ASLEEP IN DEVONPORT BAND ROTUNDA SALVATION ARMY’S HELP Unlike most men who appear at the Police Court charged with vagrancy, Edward Percy Heyes has been making a genuine attempt to find work. He told Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., this morning that he was carrying his blankets and tramping the countryside in search of something to do. Yesterday he had done a day’s work for which he had been paid 4s 6d. The magistrate remanded him until tomorrow, Senior-Sergeant O’Grady remaking that the Salvation Army might be able to help the man. Heyes, described as a leadlight worker, aged 45, was charged with being idle and disorderly, having insufficient visible means of support. Accused was an active looking man with a trim moustache. He was, by his speech, well educated, and pleaded not guilty in decisive tones. According to Constable Butler, Heyes had been sleeping in the band rotunda at Devonport after midnight. He had no money and nowhere to sleep. There was a. swag w r ith him. and Heyes had said he was tramping about the North Shore looking for work. “I have known Heyes for two years, and I don’t think he drinks; at least not to excess,” added witness, in reply to the magistrate. “I have never seen him drunk.” Heyes spoke feelingly of his efforts to find work. He had come from a farm and was a good milker and fencer and was used to horses. Yesterday, after doing a day’s work, for which he had been paid 4s 6d, he had walked to Devonport from Milford. The Senior-Sergeant: He had only threepence halfpenny when he was arrested. Heyes said he was forced to sleep where he could when he was tramping about looking for work. He had sufficient equipment to keep the weather off him. “There are races on at Takapuna,” put in Constable Butler. “Stables are unlocked and there are racehorses about. The danger is that a man may get into a stable and smoke.” On the suggestion of the seniorsergeant, Heyes was remanded until tomorrow so that Staff-Captain Holmes of the Salvation Army could be acquainted with the circumstances. “He may he able to do something for accused,” agreed the magistrate.