THEFT IN CAMP

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 2

THEFT IN CAMP

Colonel Answers Remarks By Counsel

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, September 2. Strong exception, was taken by Colonel Jeffery, area commander, today to remarks made in the Magistrates’ Court by counsel for a soldier charged with stealing petrol from Army cycles in camp. Counsel had suggested that the charge was trivial and that if accused had held a higher rank than private the matter would have been dealt with, by the military authorities. Colonel Jeffery said there was nothing trivial about il. The petrol was siphoned from the machines of a flying patrol which had to be ready at a moment’s notice for any emergency. On actual war conditions the offence would rauk as sabotage. As'to the second suggestion by counsel, an Army Order had been issued that all charges of theft in eamps must be dealt with by the civil courts, irrespective of the rank of the offender. Counsel had also referred to rumours of wastage of petrol in camps. “Considering the imlnensity’ of the job the Army is doing,” said Colonel Jeffery, "I am satisfied that the expenditure of petrol is far from excessive.”