"RAGGING."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 130, 19 October 1912, Page 5

" RAGGING."

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Yesterday. A highly dangerous form of ragging was discovered in the engine-shed among the cleaners at Dunedin. mostly lads of 17 to 10 yen\s. This led to the prosecution of 'Charles W. Foster for unlawfully assaulting Victor Hercules Main. The" latter had jnst joined the service, and was under an engine at night with the usual lamp. He had fixed the cap when Foster blew kerosene from his mouth at the flame with the object of frightening Main. The vapour landed on the latter's cap, which ignited and burned the hair off the lad's head, and skin came off the forehead.

The Magistrate accepted the explanation of defendant that he had no intention of doing bodily ha'rm. Had he been a man he would have inflicted a very heavy penalty. He was fined £3, half the fine, to go to the injured hoy. The Department intimated its determination to put down this kind of thing. Foster was previously employed at the Addington workshops.