CONVERTING OF CARS A MAJOR CRIME

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5329, 15 February 1947, Page 6

CONVERTING OF CARS A MAJOR CRIME

— —i —«.i" ■■■. Problem For Past 25 Years, States Bench AUCKLAND, last night. "Car conversion has been a r.tajor crime and problem for the last 25 years. There are many pecple who think that the Court has been far too lenxent and that probation. should not be granted. There is a difference between cUses, and in some cases it is granted. In this case it is not." This obsei'vation was made by Mr. J. II. Luxfovd, S.M., in the Police Court to-day when dealing with a case of car conversion. The accnsed, W'iliiam Stanley Sowden, 2(i, labourer, who admitted the offence, was sent to gaol for four months. When ihe case was called Subi Inspector Daly asked for a remand. j Mr. Aekins objected.saying the police had made a search of accused's house and liad not found any stolen property. If the case was to proeeed he would plead guilty. The sab-inspector said other inquirics wcre to be made. Mr. Luxford: Inspector, I hope that you are not going to ask for a remand to make inquiries. The applieation is refused and the case will proeeed. The sub-inspeetor said a car valfied at .1-350 j,vas left unloeked in Karangahape Road last night and was removed during the owner's absence. Later in the night a constahle saw the car heing driven along the same road and, seeking the aid of a passing motorist, followed it to another part of the city. Sowden's explanation was j that he took the car for a 'iark." He received good wages. and lived in a i t"1c rental house. Making a plea on hehalf of Sowden, whom, he said, had served in the army overseas for two and a-half years, Mr. Aekins said accused had taken some liquor. All he did was to drive round the hlock and call at a friend's home.