JUDGE SPEAKS PLAINLY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 7

JUDGE SPEAKS PLAINLY

-~ „ -. POSTAL OFFICERS'AND' THEIR TRUST. ~ ..- . (By Telegraph.-I'iesa Association.) Auckland, April 6. Mr. Justice Cooper took a serious view of «l'.offence committed by Arthur Gordon Anderson, a' youth of 17, brought up for sentence in tho Supremo Court to-uay for stealing ;from postal padkots While employed irt tho post office - ot Xawaka-Wa. His Honour was reluctant to applytho provisions of the First Offenders Act in this caso, even though tho amount involved did not exceed £0. The thefts had been going on. for .'six months,' and in many' cases letters Wero destroyed. "It is a very serious thing to tamper with tho post," said the Judge. "No ono call gauge tho effect of destroying letters in this way;'."'tSorne'!unfortunato, woman maybe expecting money from her husband or some relative may be anxiously.■■•waiting'to hear "news. Lives may. hq wrecked in this way, This is an offence which in the interests of . thopublic should not be treated lightly. It id one of tho most serious offences this interference with letters by a postal official. Letters aro supposed to b© sacred. I have not yet decided what I shall do with tho accused, and will remand him -until May 25,.50 that in the meantime inquiries may be made from his relatives.". Tho Crown Prosecutor mentioned that His Honour's, attitude to euch cases was exactly that of Mr. Justioo Edwards. His Honour: "Tho Judges aro agreed on the seriousness of the offence.-There must-be strong reasons before a postal I official who betrays his trust cftn escape punishment."