CAR CONVERSION PENALTIES

Chronicle (Levin), 30 May 1946, Page 2

CAR CONVERSION PENALTIES

MORE STRINGENT PUN ISIIMENT URGED That the atteutioh of the AI i nistcr of Justice ( Hon. H. G. It. Milson) should be drawn to Ihe fact tluit Ihe wrongtui conversion of motor vehicles appeared to be iuc reasingly associated with serious crime and in recent instances had involved more than oue death, was the text of a resolution passed by the North Island Motor Union at tlie quarterly conferenee held in Palmerston North yesterdav. It was furthcr ciecided that the Minister should be asked to have more severe penalties imposed for this type of offenee, inciuding provision for a term of imprisonment for second and subsequent convictions. Tlie motion was prescnted by Mr. T. M. N. liodgers on be.half of tlie M anawai u Automobile Associatiou. Ile referred specifically to the recent banic robbery at Bulls where, he said, tlie jniscreants had indiscriminately converteu motor cars as part of thcir major crime. 11c also referrcd to another recent case where a motor lorrv, allegedly conv^rted, had been involved in a shocking eollision with a service car resulting in the death of two passengers. Jn the Feilding Magistrate's Court recently a mau had been /ined £7 witn l()s costs for "couverting" to his own use a tvre and wheel from a private garage. In llie same court a nian I'ouml guilty of shooting a duck without a licence was sitnilarly iincd. Tlie diucre]»ancy in penalties for offences of such different dogrees of seriousncss was, said Mr. liodgers, an inslance ot Ihe inadequacy of imnishnient intiicled for conversion of ollier- people 's property. IIo tliought tlie positiou miglit best be met by tlie introduction of greater minimum peuaUics. hlr. F. J. llill supported the motion, instancing a recent case in his knowledge where a youth found guilty oi couverting a car was iined only £2, tlie court liaving taken a leuieut vievv ot the oJTence. JMr. liodgers said tliis class of crime seemed jiarticularly prevulent among irresponsible young men. Dr. E. E. Porritt: Whv don't you incliule a recommendation for the birch to lie administered to youtlis caugiu couverting cars? - Mr. Ilodgers: Fnt'o rtunately it is prohibited by law in tliis coiintrv. A member: It is consiclered tou barbaric, do'ctor. The motion was unanimously adopted.