Dearest Ma,
Now don’t be upset, Ma, but I’m in prison!
You never thought your younger son would say that, did you? No, it’s not one of my jokes. I’m in Mt Eden Prison in Auckland.
The police arrested me at Mr Yee’s and handed me over to the Army. I told the officer I wouldn’t put on a uniform, so they gave me three days in the Drill Hall cells. When I still wouldn’t accept military orders, I was returned to the police and sentenced to twelve weeks’ hard labour for ‘disobeying a lawful military command’. The Army and the police like me so much that they’ve both invited me to stay in their prisons.
Don’t be downhearted, Ma. I’m not. I had an interesting free trip to Auckland in the train! I saw some scenery I’d never seen before. I’m working in the prison quarry, helping break stones to
