Hamilton's beggars should be barred from entering the City limits, former hotelier W.A. (Toppy) Cowen said.

He was speaking after being followed into a toilet by a tramp demanding money who would not take no for an answer.

He said: "Two men were sitting on the wall outside the Par-la-Ville Park toilets on Queen Street. As I passed by, one of the men requested a dollar for a cup of coffee. I said: `No, I don't have a dollar'.

"Once inside the public facility the same man came up behind me and said: `Do you have a couple of dollars for a sandwich and a cup of coffee?' "Again I said no. First it was harassment. Then it became intimidation. I feared I might be attacked from behind while inside the building.'' When he reported the incident to the Police he was told the beggar was known to them.

Mr. Cowen asked if Magistrates and politicians were being too soft on panhandlers.

"Have we become too lenient with street people who beg on a daily basis? Are our politicians and Magistrates too soft on crime and unable to hand down an appropriate judgment on those who are afflicted with antisocial behaviour patterns? he queried.

"Alternative sentencing in the Tumin Report recommended that offences such as wandering abroad be abolished and this is where we have not come to grips with the situation,'' he continued.

"I don't think a rap on the knuckles and a few days behind bars is the answer.

His comments come after persistent beggar Eugene (Jinx) Darrell, who has four convictions, was released immediately after pleading guilty to his fifth offence last week.

Mr. Cowen said his work experience had shown him there was another way to deter criminals.

"Perhaps another solution might be considered which is similar to the way hotel operators deal with known criminals, who used to operate around hotels, when they are released from prison. A letter is sent to these seasoned offenders, telling them that they will be charged with trespassing if they are seen on their property again.

"Magistrates could consider imposing this type of restriction to the habitual beggars found in the City of Hamilton.

"Therefore if those who are considered to be a menace to society are restrained from entering the City limits for a while it might discourage them from seeking handouts in future.'' Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt backed the idea but said he was unsure if it was enforceable under the present law.

He said: "Maybe it's a power that Magistrates have. They can give conditional discharges.

"If Magistrates said beggars were not allowed to come into the City and they did, then they could be taken back into Court to face the original offence.

That's one way of doing it. But I don't know whether the law allows them to do this.'' Mr. Sherratt said the Corporation could only ban people from its property if it was capable of being closed up, such as parks and passenger terminals.

He noted that such a ban had been slapped on Mr. Darrell.