HARD LABOUR FOR CARGO PILLAGERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 34, 4 November 1920, Page 4

HARD LABOUR FOR CARGO PILLAGERS

i SEVERE COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE Br Toleeraah—Prcsi Association. Christchurc.li, November 3. "It has come to this," said Mr, M'Carthv S.M., in passing sentence on several pillagers in the Lyttelton Magistrates .Court this afternoon: "it is <i contest ftetwoen the law on the one hand ant. th® lliief on the other. Honest people of thw Dominion have grown tired of paying for tlu depredations of small bands of who infest-shipping, tho waterside, and Ilia railways. I have frequently Mid from this beucli, and I am gomg to eav it again, that I do notintend to extend tho provisions 'of the Probation Act or to inflict any fines for pillaging;, unfjl there is a considerable moderation in these thefts, for which the honest, people of New Zealand have to pny._ Janies Churcher, .bnc Uiadwiek,Ldgar ITowden, and Roderick JlMni.es. hremen on the £?.s Kent) were charged with theit of a number of articles, including felt hate. map. and' crockery, the Proner.y of the Federal Lino Shipping Conffany. Accused "leaded guilty. Chadwick, Howden, and' M'lnnes were each sentenced .to three months' imprisonment with hard labour on one charge, and were com icted and discharged on the others. Churcher, who bad three cluirgos against him, was sentenced to three months ' nl P" s " 1 with hard labour on two of the c the terms to be cumulative, ainl on tin third he was convicted nnd discharged.