SHIP DESERTERS

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 8

SHIP DESERTERS

TWO GERMANS ESCAPE PENALTY BRITISHER SENT TO GAOL OUSSTIOH ASKED IH PARLIAMENT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 22. Why should a Britisher receive 21 days’* imprisonment when two Germans, both charged with the same offence as the Britisher, were ordered to come up lor sentence when called upon within two years, was tho point of an urgent question put by Mr Kyle in tho House of Representatives this morning. Mr Kyle said the throe men were charged with desertion from a ship at Auckland, with the result indicated. He wished tho Minister of Justice to state whether he agreed with this preferential treatment. Mr Mason replied that he was at a disadvantage, as he could only speak from the recollection of what he had read, which was that the two Germans were exempted from imprisonment on account of their extreme youth,, and ho agreed that imprisonment should not bo imposed on youths if it could bo avoided. The Acting Prime Minister raised a point of order whether such a question should bo permitted. It was not the prerogative of any Minister, he declared, to say whether lie agreed with the decision of a magistrate. Ministers had nothing to do with these decisions. Mr Speaker replied that he had some doubt about allowing the question, but as it raised a question of the administration of justice, obviously the Minister could be questioned if an iniustico had been done. For that reason ho permitted the question, although if the Minister had insufficient timo_ to consider the matter, he had the right to ask that it be placed on the Order Paper.