PARTY COMES TO AID OF DRUG PENSIONER

A gang of freedom fighters has come to the aid of Te Puke great-grandfather
and convicted dope dealer George Edwards.

Tauranga Libertarianz candidate Russell Watkins and a handful of other
party activists rolled up their sleeves on Saturday and finished concreting
Mr Edwards' driveway.

Mr Watkins said that it was absurd for the authorities to pick on the
74-year-old pensioner, who had been growing and selling cannabis to get
money to improve his state rental property.

"George is just a battler, that's all. They should leave the old boy alone."

A delighted Mr Edwards shouted the volunteers some beers after the
three-hour working bee.

"They went away happy, I'm happy here, but I don't think the Housing
Corporation will be," chuckled Mr Edwards, who estimated he made $1600 in
six months from his dope deals.

He was arrested nearly two months ago, with about 2m of concrete still unlaid.

Late last week, two Housing New Zealand representatives came to inspect the
unapproved and illegally financed work.

Mr Edwards said they measured the unfinished section of driveway and went
off to decide what to do.

Meanwhile, with enough cement and metal still in hand, he accepted the
Libertarianz offer of free labour.

"Now the job is done and I don't have to worry any more," he said with
relief yesterday.

"I can now settle down to my life again."

If the state landlord decided to remove the concrete and the fruit trees he
had paid for with drug money, there would be "hell to pay," he said.

The pensioner, whose prison sentences for growing and selling cannabis were
suspended for 18 months, has been warned by Housing New Zealand that he and
his wife could be evicted if there is any repetition of his "totally
unacceptable behaviour."