Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1939. CONVERSION OF CARS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 133, 18 March 1939, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1939. CONVERSION OF CARS.

The concern expressed by Justices of the Peace at their conference at Timaru this week over the increasing number of cases of conversion of motor cars is shared by motorists generally. "Unlawful conversion” is the euphemistic term for the theft of cars, an offence presenting a problem of a highly complex nature, involving social as well as legal difficulties. The Justices of the Peace Conference carried a remit urging ths Minister of Justice to bring the matter to the attention of all magistrates with a view to more adequate punishment being inflicted. The motorists’ organisations have also been pressing with some justification for the imposition of penalties which will act as a deterrent. In reply to their representations the Minister has pointed out that it is not the function of the Administration to interfere with the interpretation of the law by the magistracy. Any changes that are made must be made by the Government in the law. itself, and present conditions demand that some step should be taken to prevent the evil becoming even more widespread. In considering the question of heavier penalties a complication may arise out of the fact that youths constitute the majority of the offenders. About half the guilty persons in this class of offence under the'age of 17 years, and 80 or 90 per cent are under 23. Imprisonment for youthful first offenders, as Mr Mason remarks, might have harmful effects in bringing young minds into contact with a more vicious criminal .outlook. Nevertheless, the conversion of cars, in its cumulative effect, represents a serious offence against property, and there is also distressing evidence that many stolen cars are involved in accidents, causing death and injury to the innocent occupants of other vehicles. It has been urged that motorists can safeguard their property by taking greater precautions against theft, but they are as much entitled as any other section of the community to protection from the dishonest. The application of the word conversion to the offence of theft of cars is due to the fact that the actual intention of the unlawful driver is not to deprive the owner of permanent possession, simply to deprive him of use temporarily. This may be the strict legal distinction, but the conditions now prevailing render it desirable that this strict distinction should give place to a practical measure. Whether guilty of "theft” or "conversion” the offender should be liable to a penalty that would act as an effective deterrent.