MOTOR CAR RIDES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 80, 5 April 1943, Page 4

MOTOR CAR RIDES

GIRL'S CULPABILITY

MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT

When an 18-year-old girl, Betty Frances Whitlock, appeared before 2 Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., this morn. L " ing, jointly charged with an 18. f year-old youth, Lance Matthew 1 Dunn, with the conversion of four motor cars in the city, her solicitor, Mr. Noble, commented that it was unfortunate that a young girl had been brought before the Court. Mr. Luxford immediately interjected that it was a very proper thing that the police should have taken this action. There were many such offences occurring at the present time, and some girls who took rides in these cars knew that the cars had not been honestly obtained "The girls' influence, in many cases, if properly used, would prevent these-syoung men from taking the cars," kaid the magistrate. Dunn) who was charged with eight conversion offences in all, pleaded guilty through his counsel' Mr. _ Aekins, and was convicted and sentenced to a term of reformative detention in Borstal for 18 months. In this case, it was pointed out that Dunn, who was an apprentice panelbeater, had not been previously in trouble. His father was in the army, and was stationed away from home. Concerning the cases in which he and the girl were jointly charged, evidence was given by the police, and by the girl herself, that i on each occasion she, Dunn and a , younger youth, had been together. Dunn had suggested taking tne cars in order that they could all go for a ride. While he was taking the car the other two would walk ahead or go round a corner until picked up. In committing the girl to probation for a period of two years, Mr. Luxford said that this case had the peculiar feature that a young woman was charged with being involved in the conversion of four cars. He had no doubt of her guilt. She and the other accused had taken part in a common purpose, and she was equally to blame with Dunn. "I would like young women to know that they are equally guilty of conversion "vyhen they knowingly enter a car that has been converted," said Mr. Luxford. "Women are capable of influencing men for good or bad, and when the influence is for, bad they have got to be punished. I am taking a lenient view in this case in imposing probation. I am not suppressing the name. I want these young women to know they have no chance of having their name suppressed,. but run the risk of being sent to the Borstal." A condition of the girl's probation was that she should pay £1 as her share of the petrol used. SALE OF WASTE RUBBER As a result of the sale of waste rubber to the rubber mills by the National Council for Reclamation of Waste Materials, the patriotic funds benefited to the extent of £1516 up to March 20, states a report by the council. Of the amount realised, the Wellington province contributed £307, Taranaki £153, Hawke's Bay £12 and Auckland £1044. Of the Auckland amount the Northland area, with headquarters at Whangarei, accounted for £69, the Franklin area £29, the Waikato area £74, the Rotorua area £28, the Eastern Bay of Plenty area £18, the Western Bay of Plenty area £12, and the Thames area £17, and the Auckland Metropolitan area £797. The report stated that rubber was still coming in, especially from the southern part of the North Island.