The Waipukurau Press. Published: MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1927. ABSTRACT ARTICLES

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 20, 18 February 1927, Page 4

The Waipukurau Press. Published: MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1927. ABSTRACT ARTICLES

JUDICIAL VAGARIES; In connection with the sentences for criminal offences it has often been remarked that they, on occasions, show vagaries that appear almost inexplicable. “To make the punishment fit the crime” is the object of our courts-of justice, and in general this mission is fulfilled as far as is humanly possible to adjudcate fairly and squarely. The recent sitting of the Supreme Court in Dunedin afforded an instance of the measure of the penalty, although severe appearing illogical when compared with other cases of false pretences or theft, of lesser consequence. A break from the path of honesty involving a few pounds may mean six months imprisonment, whereas infinitely larger sums seldom involve anything like proportionate terms of imprisonment. In the case in point a prisoner was sentenced to three years’ hard labour on four charges of . false pretences. Mr Hanlon, in a plea for leniency, stated that it had been said that sums totalling £20,000 were involved, but a search of the books and papers showed at the most £6OOO or £7OOO. Accused came to New Zealand, as a youth in 1893 and later went into the saw-mak-ing business. He began to obtain advances of small sums for investments, and the apparent. case with, which he obtained . them led him to gather in larger sums for fraudlent investment, until, becoming seriously involved,-he began “robbing-Peter to pay Paul.'.’ Matters became so involved that in 1925 his nervous state caused him to. enter a mental hospital, where he remained for eight months, then proceeding to Australia.

The Crown Prosecutor stated that from a list compiled, £20,000 was. the sum believed to be involved. It was a mystery where the sum had disappeared, and the Court was without an explanation on this point. Then there was the nature of some of the cases —the taking of . money from, women, which had altogether gone. _ ... The Judge stated that the prisoner went deliberately to work, ingratiating himself and establishing confidence. It was his duty to inflict a heavy penalty. In ..another instance, a sharebroker, charged with theft, was admitted to two years’ probation on condition that he paid the costs of the case. It was stated that arrangements had . been made for resitution on the sum-involved £690. Another man.for receiving stolen property, was sentenced to two years } hard labour. ' TRADE BALANCE. In moving the adoption of the annual report of the Advisory Board at the Dominion Conference of the Federation of Drapers, Clothiers, and Boot Retailers held the other day at Christchurch, the President, observed: —“The trade outlook at the present moment deserves your consideration. •For some months past the spending power of the people has been materially reduced, and this state of. affairs will continue until such time .as the adverse balance of trade is rectified. We are now spending in excess of our' income,, a. very unhealthy state of affairs. I am glad to note .that during last year the imports have decreased by £2,566,8.44, but they will need to be reduced a great deal more before the adverse balance' can be corrected. Motor-cars and accessories, are very largely responsible for the adverse trade balance, but I would..ask you to carefully consider whether we in the drapery and allied trades arcdoing as much as we should to help to reduce it. Are some of us not carrying heavier stocks.than our turnover warrants? If we are, we are not only doing the country hann, but injuring ourselves, as big stocks out of proportion to turnover are uneconomic ajad must inevitably result in losses to those carrying them.” ■ We have from time to time commented upon the significance of the adverse balance in the Dominion trading ! figures and pointed out that oyer-im- 1 portation must needs lead to trouble,' as was the experience in 1921-2. The ? Drapers ’ Federation has sounded a timely - warning to those engaged in that trade, which, like the motor bus-,, iness. is very sensitive to the fluetua- . tion of our export values. ~ !