GAOL FOR PILFERERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1920, Page 4

GAOL FOR PILFERERS.

NO SYMPATHY FROM S.M. WILL NOT INFLICT FINES By Tclejtrapn.—Press AsMdatlou. Christchnrch, Last Night. '"lt has come to this," said Mr. McCarthy. S.M., in passing sentence on several pillagers at the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this afternoon. "It is a contest between the law on the one hand and the thief on the other. Honest people of this Dominion have grown tired of paying: for the deprecations of small bands of thieves who infest the shipping, the waterside, and the railways. J. have frequently said from this bench, and I am going to say it again, that I do not intend to extend the provisions of the Probation Act or to inflict any fines for pillaging until there is a, considerable moderation in these thefts, for which the honest people of New Zealand have to P a y-" ' James Cliurcher, Erie Chadwick, Edgar Ilowden, and Roderick Mclnnes (firemen 011 the s.s. Kent), wern charged with the theft of a number of articles, including felt hats, soap, and crockery, the property of the Federal Line Shipping Company. The accused pleaded guilty. Chadwick, Howden, and Mclnnes were sentenced to three months' imprisonment with lmrd labor 011 one charge each, and convicted and discharged on the others. Cliurcher, who had three charges against him, vu sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard lahor on two of th» charges, the terms to be cumulative, and on the third charge he was convicted nud discharged.