FOUND ON SHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1941, Page 6

FOUND ON SHIP

FOUR MEN OF MILITARY AGE. ALL SENT TO GAOL FOR THREE MONTHS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Walter Norman Hogg, carpenter, aged 32, John Armstrong, slaughterman, aged 38, Frank Walter Pincher, slaughterman, aged 25, and George Andrew John Lopas, electric welder, aged 24, who were found on an overseas ship on Friday afternoon last, appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court today, charged with entering a ship without a permit. Lopas was further charged with assuming the name of Parker. All four pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Joyce, after describing how the men were found by the police aboard a ship about to sail for Australia, said all were liable for military service and’ apparently were trying to avoid their responsibilities. On behalf of Armstrong arid Pincher, counsel, Mr Mitchell, said both were Australians and were prepared to render military service. Having failed to obtain permission to leave the country, they were attempting to return to Australia, where more work was offering than in New Zealand. Describing the men as four cowardly runaways and deliberate shirkers, Mr Hunt sentenced each to three months’ imprisonment.

Lopas was convicted and discharged for assuming a wrong name.