CONVERSION OF CARS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21243, 15 August 1934, Page 10

CONVERSION OF CARS

——♦ HEAVIER PENALTIES CONTEMPLATED PROPOSED LEGISLATION [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.J WELLINGTON, August 14. An increase in the penalty for unlawful conversion of motor-cars will be provided for in legislation which the Government contemplates introducing at an early date. At present a person convicted of this type of offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £2O o. imprisonment for three months; but it is understood that the amending bill will provide for a maximum penalty of 12 month ' imprisonment or a fine of £SO on summary conviction, and that in cases of proceedings on indictment the maximum penalty will be a fine of £ 100 or imprisonment for two years. These proposed increases will bring the New Zealand law more into line with that in Great Britain. There the penalty on summary conviction is a fine of £SO or three months' imprisonment, and on indictment a fine of £IOO or 12 months' imprisonment. As the law stands at present, there is no provision for charges involving unlawful conversion of motorcars being heard by way of indictment. The amount ot compensation which can be claimed for damage done during unlawful conversion of a vehicle is limited to £2O, although the damage might m; j times exceed this sum. It is understood that the proposed legislation will provide for an increase in the sum that can be claimed as compensation. For some years, motoring organisations have been agitating for an increase in the penalty for unlawful conversion of n.otor vehicles. The question was raised by Mr J. Linklater (C, Manawaftu) in the House of Representatives during the first week of the present session. The Minister for Just : ~e (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) then indicated that the question of a heavier penalty was under consideration.