DISHONETY IN POSTAL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1921, Page 8

DISHONETY IN POSTAL SERVICE.

OFFENCE BECOMING TOO COMMON. Christchurch, April 11. A ruling that he would give imprisonment for all breaches of the Post and Telegraph Act by Postal officers, was laid down by His Honor Mr. .Justice Herdman to-day, in sentencing Edwin Scott Pritchard, a letter-carrier, to twelve months’ reformative detention for thefts of money from letters. Pritchard had pleaded guilty to /hefts at Christchurch. "This kind of offence is becoming too eonrmon,” said His Honor. -“On several occasions within the last two or three years persons from the Post and Telegraph Department have committed offences against the Post and Telegraph Act. If this kind of thing goes on the public will lose, confidence completely in the Department. People post letters and expect that they will reach their destination. On four different occasions this man took possession of letters containing money, and pul money in his pocket. There is no doubt that he has had an unblemished record in the past and he has had war service, but 1 do not propose to extend the benefit of the Probation Act‘to anyone who, being a Postal official, commits an offence against the Post Office Act. The public must have confidence in this big public utility, and if people are permitted to steal letters and the contents iof letters, and then come into Court and get their liberty, a satisfactory result will not be obtained.”