PRISON SENTENCE REDUCED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 9

PRISON SENTENCE REDUCED

THEFTS BY COURT REGISTRAR

JUDGE COMMENTS ON SUBMISSIONS

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NTH., Nov. 5.

The Chief Justice (Sir Harold Bar. rowclough), in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North today, reduced a sentence of 18 months* imprisonment with hard labour, imposed by Mr L. M. Inglis, S.M., on Hector McKechnie, former registrar of the Marton Magistrate’s Court, to one of nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour. McKechnie was sentenced for a series of thefts of sums paid into the Marton Court . between November. 1951, and July, 1954. "I respectfully agree with the learned Magistrate’s view that the fact that these offences were committed by an officer of a Court of Justice is an aggravating feature.” said the Chief Jus-, tice. . . . “But, notwithstanding that, and with the greatest respect to a Magistrate who has had very considerable experience abroad as well as in this country, I am of the opinion that in this case the Magistrate estimated the relevance of the appellant's previous good character, and did not attach sufficient weight to certain other punishments which the appellant must suffer, apart altogether from the sentence of the Court "A man’s previous good character and meritorious public service are of little use to him if they cannot be called to his aid when he is faced with a situation such as now confronts the appellant,” said his Honour. ‘T must not be unmindful of the fact that the appellant has lost irrevocably his status and employment in a Government department in which he had made no small progress; that he has lost a considerable advantage that he ! would have had from the superannua--1 tion fund to, which he, was a subscriber; that ;xe hak lost, or will lose, i I nwst assume, Her Majesty’s commission in the Army; and that he and his family have been subjected to shame and humiliation, which is all the grater because of the responsible position he formerly held” Release on probation was not justif fled, said the Chief Justice. i “In the interests of justice, and so ! that no one shall believe that I rej gard offences of this sort lightly, I feel ■ bound to say that I have not been ■ influenced in my decision by some of the submissions that were made to me on behalf of *he appellant,” he said. His Honour said ne was not at all ; impressed with a statement made at ! the Bar that many persons, including i some of the appellant’s former col- . leagues in the Justice Department, i were shocked at the severity of the sentence. “I hope,” he added, "the day will never come when this Court will be influenced in its decisions by 1 popular and uninformed criticism.