Betrayal of Trust

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 5

Betrayal of Trust

POSTAL ni.TiUAT, TAMPERS WITH LETTERS.

A YK.iY sEIiIOCS OFFEKCE,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night, N Mr. Justice Cooper took a serious view ~: <•! the oil'ence committed by Arthnr i - Uirdon Anderson, a y.-.ulh of 17, brought ' ' ' up for sentence in the Supreme Court '\ to-day for stealing from postal packed * wliiie employed in.the post oftice at Kit- * wakawa. His Honor was reluctant to '■>; apply the provisions of the First Of- '*■''■ fenders Act in this ease, even though ,' ! the amount involved did not exceed £5. \ Thefts had been going on for six months. . '"' and in many cases letters were de- ' . stroyed.

•'it is a very serious thing to tamper "' k with the post," said the Judge. "So >• one can gauge the effect of destroying ~',! letters m this way. KomcWortunate ' woman may be expecting money from '.' her husband, or some relative may be anxiously waiting to hear new* '' Lives may he wrecked in thjg way. '>' This is un offence which in the interests ' "> of the public should treated lightly. It is one of the mofl serious offences, this Interference wifh letters '-' by a postal official. Letters are so> pose,! to he sacred. I have not yet decided what 1 shall do with the accused and shall remand ■him until %,• 25, so . i that in the meantime enquiries 'may be -' made from his relatives." • The Crown Prosecutor mentioned that • ' his Honor's attitude to such cases was -"* exactly that of Mr. Justice Edwards'. His Honor: The Judges arc agreed on ' 5 the seriousness of this offence. There • must be strong reasons' before a postal oflidal who betrays his trust can escape '' punishment. ( '.