HOMELESS OLD MAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1920, Page 6

HOMELESS OLD MAN.

SAD CASE AT WANGANiUI. OOMMENTS BY MAGISTRATE., Sept. 20. A pitiable case was brought before Mr. Wyvern Wilson. S.M. the other morning, when an old man who had passed the allotted span of three score and ten years, was charged with being an idle and disorderly person without sufficient means of support. Senior-Sergt. Bourke said the man's only offence was that he was poor. He had arrived at Wanganui on Friday last, and made an effort to get into the Old People's Home, but as lie was a stranger, the local doors were, according to law, closed against him. He informed the police that he had left his swag at a boarding house, and had also deposited £1 with it, but could.not remember where. On Saturday night the old man found his way back to the police station and slept there, and was found by the constable on duty yesterday morning and turned out. The senior-sergeant stated that he was anxious about the old man's welfare yesterday, and instituted a search for him. In the evening he was brought to the station by a local boarding house proprietor.' The present charge had been brought against the veteran in order to try to get him into a home. In answer to the magistrate, the old man stated that he had worked until recently about 16 miles from Te Kuiti, and that he came to Wanganui to try to get into the home. The work on the fann became too hard for him, otherwise he was sorry to leave. He had worked several years in Eaetihi and other districts. ' The magistrate remarked that the old man apparently picked up his kit and moved about, and wherever he landed became his domicile. The proper place for him would be in the Old Men's Home. Senior-Sergeant Bourke remarked that the old man could not be put in the train and sent back to Auckland to be stranded there and arrested. The magistrate said the old man's only fault was his years. He was not capablo of work, and should not be put in gaol. He reiterated that there should I be half-way institutions for these old! people where they would be under a certain amount of restriction and would be prevented from running away. The proper course would be to have the old man admitted to the home. The magistrate adjourned the case for a week to see if the old fellow cannot be admitted to the home. Senior-Sergeant Bourke said the old man was so anxious to get into a home that he had even asked, if other sources failed, to be sent to the inebriates' home at Roto Boa island. The old man: Yes; send me to the island, as I can't be humbugging about here.