CONVERSION OF CARS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19142, 27 October 1927, Page 8

CONVERSION OF CARS.

INCREASED PENALTIES URGED. DISCUSSION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [THE PRESS SpecUl Berries.]

WELLINGTON. October 26. Intimation was made by Sir Irancis Bell in the Legislative Council to-day, replying to a discussion on the Police Offences Bill, in which the subject of wrongful conversion of motor-cars was raised, that the Government would consider the question of increasing the penalties prescribed in tho Act beiore the Bill was passed through the House of Representatives.* Several speakers referred to tne number of cases of conversion of cars and urged that the penalties be tightened up. The question of drunkenness as a contributing factor to accidents was also raised'. Sir Robert Stout suggested that instead of the licenses being cancelled it would be an effective step to prohibit offenders from making use ot any machine at all and compelling them to walk wherever they went. A voice: Would you apply that to travel bv rail, too? Sir Robert Stout: Yes, the railways just the same. The Hon. Mr Malcolm asked the Leader of the Council what difficulty there was to removing the option of a 6p e - , Sir FranSis Bell, in reply, instanced offences by boys "for a lark," and asked Mr Malcolm if he would compare such cases with those in which there was actual wrong-doing and injury to the car. The opinion must be allowed to stand in order that" both cases might be dtealt with. The section of the Act under ,discussion dealt with an offence that was not wicked but wrong. SteaJing a ride was never at any time a criminal offence, but civil. There were good reasons against making a dangerous act, which could not be characterised as wicked, a subject of serious imprisonment. The matter would be considered by the Government before the _ Bill (which originated in the Council) passed the House of Representatives. Replying to .other questions, Sir Francis Bell saidl he agreed that tlje penalty for unlicensed driving should be increased. In some cases he did not think the point in regard to theft had been sufficiently considered, and Magistrates might be a little more inclined than at present to sec that.real theft had been committed. The nature of the offence might be increased in the information, but thiit was a' matter for the police rather than for the Legislature. "So long as you dlefine the offence of conversion as something which is not wicked but wrong," said Sir Francis Bell, "you ought not to impose the same penalties as in the case of wicked offences. You won't get the Legislature to provide _ heavy penalties for offences which it itself defines as without' felonious intent.''