CONVERSION OF CARS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 22 January 1938, Page 8

CONVERSION OF CARS.

It is to be hoped that this phase of our social life —the conversion of cars—will receive closer attention from the Minister of Justice, and the Cabinet as a whole, and, perhaps,, attention will be given it now that a Magistrate has spoken plainly on the matter. When a youth or a young man deliberately makes away with a car either from the street or from a garage it is not “conversion,” but plain theft, and should be treated and dealt with as such. There is a singular reluctance to face up to realities in this matter, and it is a mistake to believe that the conscience of the community is mollified by calling the theft of a motor-car conversion. Those who lose their cars through conversion find it rather expensive. The initial cost of a motor-car is no small item, and the incidental running costs, plus insurance, total up an appreciable weekly outlay. To add to this,. damage or even total destruction by 3 r outkful vandals is a long w r ay over the 'odds. These thefts of cars are in nearly all cases the work of youths aged from about 17 to 22 and 23. Because they are young we are reminded of the old sayings that “Boys will be boys,” or that “You cannot put old heads on young shoulders,” which are true beyond question; but the boy. or the young man must know the difference between “mine” and “thine.” Those who convert cars to their own use must know from the very moment that they start on their thieving escapade they are stealing something that belongs to another. These car conversions are somewhat similar to bag-snatcliing, but the car is snatched when the owner is not present. The bag-snatcher society brands as a thief, but the car-snatcher is expected to be treated leniently. The young man is merely guilty of moonlight mischief, or some . other silly excuse is made for, him. Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., of Christchurch, in dealing with some young men for car. conversion, said: “For some time past a number of these young men have been relying on an extraordinary provision of the law which establishes that conversion of a motorcar is not theft. . .. It is quite time that fiction in the law should be abolished, and that the theft of cars should be put in the same category as the theft of any other article.” We think there will be general agreement with the opinions of the Magistrate. We have, known of Acts of Parliament creating gentlemen, such as an officer and a gentleman,” but here we have an Act that proclaims . thieves not to be thieves. It is up to the motorists as a whole to insist upon the Act being amended so that we may have car conversion oiven its proper title. It would be in the interests of the car owners themselves to do so.