ON SUSTENANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20498, 14 May 1938, Page 9

ON SUSTENANCE

CHINESE AND OPIUM

“ REQUIRES INVESTIGATION •* RELATIVES PAY THE FINES fßy Telegraph—rress Association: WELLIXGTGON, Friday Two Chinese, both on sustenance. Jay Gee 55 and Jim Hong 63). were each fined £25 to-day, in default two months’ Imprisonment, for being found la possession of prepared opium . “It comes as a rude shock,** •aid Mr J. H. Luxford, 8.M., “that men who are spending half-a-crown a day on opium-smoking are receiving 21s a week out of public funds. It Is a matter which requires Investigation. If unemployment Inspectors inquired carefully Into their affairs It seems Incredible that these men, who have been convicted and heavily fined, could have been the subject of relief.’* The men were found among the party that formed the subject of yesterday’s prosecutions following a raid In Haining Street the previous day, and both had opium on them. Hong, who was fined £2O in March, denied the one with a jar of opium on him. He indicated he had just finished paying the March fine. He said his fines were paid by borrowing from relations. When an interpreter made this explanation there was a roar of laughter. Asked about the fine in May last year, the reply was that he had plenty of blood relations. The Magistrate: Fortunately for him he has a benevolent State to subsidise him at the rate of 21s a week. Evidence was given by Ngan Yen that he was the keeper of the house, and that in the police mid he lost track of the jar. However, he had denied yesterday that he was the keeper, and he now claimed to be in Partners!,ip with another man.