Soft Soap

"Constable L. A. Cockburn said that on the afternoon of April 12 he was on duty at the opening ceremony of Lever Brothers' new building in Jackson Street, Petone and there were between 400 and 500 people present. The ceremony was being performed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Halstead). While the managing director of the firm. (Mr. J. R. Mann) was making the opening speech, a piercing scream came from on top of a building under construction on the opposite side of the street.

"The constable said he saw the defendant in an old hat, his hair all over his face, a soap carton round him, and carrying a long stick with his underclothes on either end of it. He was jumping up and down like a maniac, and screaming. The witness went over to the building to see the defendant, who at first refused to give his name and address, and witness added that for some time he got no co-operation from anyone working on the building.

"In reply to Mr. A. T. Rolling, for the defendant, the constable said his main concern was for the important people who were present at the function, and he did not think he had seen worse examples of behaviour in students' capping parades."—"Evening Post," 22nd May, 1957.