CONVERSION OF CARS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21019, 22 November 1933, Page 10

CONVERSION OF CARS

heavier penalties ADVOCATED SPEECH IN THE HOl-SE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. November 21.

Heavier penalties for the illegal conversion of "motor-cars were advocated by Mr Linklater <.C.. Manawatu), when speaking during the financial debate in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr Linklater said the prevalence of these offences was due to the fact that the penalties were altogether too light. He thanked the Minister for Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe), for the undertaking he had given to investigate the imposition of severer penalties foi those who converted cars to their own use in other words who committed theft Nevertheless, the problem was still far from satisfactory, for as the law now stood, a person up to the age of 21 years received three years in a Borstal institution, but a person over that age received only three months' imprisonment. That was a quite inequitable position, and should be remedied without delay. "No car to-day is safe if it is not in charge of some person in authority." said Mr Linklater. "I contend that it is a very wrong state of affairs to exist in. this "young country. The frequent thieving of cars is due to the fact that the penalties inflicted by the law are too light altogether. It might bethought by members that I am advocating this on behalf of the wealthy people of the community, but that is not the position. In farming practice the car is necessary nowadays, whether a person is rich or poor, and in the cities many men earn their livelihood by driving their own motor vehicles." TREATMENT OF CRIME DECLARING OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS .MOKE ISli ADVOCATED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. November 21. More use should be made of the existing statutory provisions for declaring persons to be habitual offenders, according to the annual report of the Prisons Board for the year 1!K;2, which was presented in the House to-day. This board believes that it would be a yreater deterrent than the present, method of treatment. It would rid the major towns of a large number of vagrants and petty criminals, and would save the expense of repeatedly bringing them before the courts. The report declares that an habitual criminal has become fixed in his habits, and that after a lifetime of crime the prospect or reformation is not. very hopeful. The board has endeavoured to give individual criminals a chance tu continue in outside life the records they have made for industry, good conduct, and intelligent and valuable work while in prison; but while this policy ha» been fully justified in a fair number of eases, there remains a considerable' number of men who. although released more than once, have shown their utter inability to conduct, themselves as law-abiding citizens. Prisoners' liccords. No man has been released unles> it is known by his record in prison that he is capable of sustained and arduous work. In the face of such record:;, the board has felt that these men deserved the opportunity of making good, and has accordingly tested them by recommending their release on probation. Some of them have responded, but experience has shown that many are definitely anti-social, and arc quite unfit to be at large. Persons declared habitual criminals duiing the period from January. 1911, to December, 1932, numbered 510. Of these 430 were released on license on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, but 57.5 per cent, of them were subsequently returned to prison, either for failing to comply with the eondtions of the probation or for further offences. No offences were recorded against the remaining 42.5 per cent., and allowing for those who havedied or left the Dominion this leaves 17.91 per cent, who have remained in the Dominion and have' not further offended.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TWO BILLS PASSED .I'KK-i) ASSOCIATION TrXEIitUM.) WELLINGTON, November 21. Moving 1 lie second reading' ot the Trade Agreement (New Zealand and Australia) Ratification Bill in the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Hon. K. Masters said the bill had been favourably received by all interests. Loth, in Australia and Ne,v Zealand. He considered it would reduce the balance of trade in favour of the Commonwealth. The Hon. D. 3uddo said it was one of the best iistentioned agreements which had been placed before Parliament for many years. The Hon. W. H. Melntyre thanked Ihe Government for what it had done for the timber industry. 'Die Hon. M. Fagan asked what had been done concerning the importation of Australian oranges. Mr Masters said New Zealand was prohibiting' the importation of Australian oranges from those states which were infected with the Mediterranean fly. Because of this prohibition America had agreed to allow thg importation of New Zealand apples and pears. The bill was put through ihe remaining stages and passed. The Coinage Bill was quickly out through all stages and passed. ' * MINISTER REFUSES A REQUEST SENTENCES FOR DISTRIBUTING DOCUMENTS ■ PUKSS ASSOCIATION TGMiCItASS.) WELLINGTON, November 21. Some lively exchanges took place between the Minister for Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) and Mr P. Fraser. M.P, for Wellington Central, during a deputation asking diat the sentences oL six months' imprisonment imposed on six men convicted of endeavouring to distribute seditious documents should be remitted. The deputation consisted of Mr F. W. Ongley and Major N. Pharazyn, from the Workers' Defence Organisation. The Minister declined the request, remarking that the men concerned had decided to break the law in spite of official warnings and must take the consequences. Mr Fraser introduced the deputation. and in the proceedings made

some reference to Carlyle in the History of the French Revolution, which caused the Minister to sav that Mr fraser did not place these men with Carlyli'. Mr i raser retorted, ''No more than I would place you with Carlyle" whereat the Minister said there was no need to lose his temper. Mr Fraser wanted to put the literature which led to the charges on the same basis as history. All the matter complained of was available to anyone in books. He likened the censorship to the burning o£ the Bible or Hitler making a bonfire of the books he did not like. The Minister: You do not approve of tne police taking action in these matters? Mr Fiaser: I think the police are silly to do so. Mr Fraser added that everv there was a prosecution the publications were advertised a hundredfold If an armed uprising was definitely advocated then it would be right for the State to tak<* miction. He would take action in such a case himself.