A DRASTIC SENTENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8984, 19 November 1907, Page 4

A DRASTIC SENTENCE.

Christchurcli has had its sense of justice outraged by the decision of the Stipendiary Magistrate, a few days ago, to send thirteen men to prison for two months and five men for one month on a charge of trespassing on the Christchurch Public Racecourse Reserve. Ten thousand citizens are petitioning Parliament to interpose in what they consider to be a straining of the law. It appears that the magistrate, in dealing with similar cases on a previous occasion, had promised to send the next offenders to gaol, and he has kept his word. The question that now arises is whether he has exceeded reasor.ble bounds. The petitioners think he has. They state that the socalled trespass was not the ordinary offence so termed, but in reality a breach of a bylaw framed by the trustees of the Christchurch Public Racecourse Reserve, prohibiting betting except by means of the totalisttor. The prosecutions were initiated and carried on by the Canterbury Jockey Club with the sole object of protecting the revenue of thetotalisator, and were not authorised or countenanced by the Police Department. It is further alleged that, in addition to the above terms of imprisonment, the magistrate stated that he was determined that the costs of the club should be paid by the accused persons, or in default, an additional twenty days' imprisonment would be inflicted. This the petitioners characterise as "an unprecedented action." Certainly it is an unusual one, and so drastic as to suggest a feeling of vindictiveness on the part of the magistrate, but that it is not easy to suggest a motive for such a sentiment on the-part of a judicial officer. At any rate, the petitioners are firmly of the opinion that the sentences are unjustifiable, excessive, and not commensurate with the offences with which the men were charged,'and they contend that the accused have been sent to prison, not for the act of trespass, but for being rivals tor public favour in competition with the totalisator. The petitioners accordingly ask that the House of Representatives will take steps to commute the sentanc-es. We think the prayer contained in the petition will meet with fie approval of the public generally. As trespassers the men deserved to be punished, but justice might be satisfied by a monetary penally in'the case under notice.