Australian Newsletter Concern At Delay In N.S.W. Courts

Press, Volume C, Issue 29526, 30 May 1961, Page 16

Australian Newsletter Concern At Delay In N.S.W. Courts

(Special Crspdt N.Z.P..A.) SYDNEY. May 25.

If you are an astute criminal in New South Wales with the usual lack of respect for the law. you can continue your nefarious activity even after you have been arrested and charged. AM that is necessary is for a court to allow you bail pending your trial. This farcical as well as serious situation is the direct result of long delays which are occurring throughout the State in the hearing of criminal trials.

The delays are enabling many offenders on bail to embark on a fresh crime wave—and often they get away with it. Police in Sydney, this week, said they knew of numerous cases, in recent years, where persons on bail bad indulged in a fresh outbreak of crime while awaiting trial. One prominent police officer said the more cunning criminals looked upon bail as affording an excellent chance to continue their crime with impunity. He added they knew that even if they were charged with further offences and convicted. they would not have to serve a longer sentence because extra sentences were usually made concurrent. Up till the end of last year, the average delay between a committal for trial in New South Wales and the trial hearing was six months. The main causes. _ according to law. court, legal and police officers, are:— Plausible excuses by charged persons to put off the hearing of their cases as long as possible. Difficulties arising out of police being ill, engaged on some other case, or on leave. Witnesses unavailable at the required times. Another aspect of court hearings which is causing concern to police and Crown law officials is the number of times offenders sentenced to gaol in lower courts, appeal to the quarter sessions appeal court when they have little chance of beating their conviction. Detectives cited the case of two youths granted bail after having been committed last year for trial on six counts of breaking, entering and stealing. By the time their trial began—six months later —each was charged with 42 offences.

including 18 for safe-break-ing. Another youthful criminal, out on bail and awaiting trial, had to . report daily to the Criminal Investigation Branch. He did so—in a stolen car with changed number plates.

Shark Meals Australians, for the most part, enjoy a nice fish meal, but shark, generally speaking. is not one they include in their variety of fish dishes.

However, the dreaded denizen of the sea is now being brought to Australia for human consumption from New Zealand—as “White fillets.” It is more than competing, in Sydney, at any rate, with the sales of locally caught shark (bought mostly by new Australians) and is being sold as cocktail pieces and cooked fish.

This week, it was disclosed that New Zealand shark imports to Australia were increasing each month. A leading Sydney fish merchant said the city’s fish eaters, generally, were very "squeamish” about eating shark, but the New Zealand product was gaining in popularity. The manager of the Sydney fish markets (Mr H. Harris) said: “We have no control over imported shark; but all N.S.W. shark must be sold as shark.” In Melbourne it is sold as “flake.”

The New Zealand shark is filleted and snap frozen in New Zealand and is shipped to Australia in 251 b boxes.

Colds In Buses

Colds and influenza have hit Sydney, in recent weeks, and the spread of the germs has been attributed largely to women's vanity.

■Railwaymen and bus drivers says that when women get into the city’s crowded buses and trains, they immediately proceed to close any windows which may be open, and doors, too. if possible. They do so because, in most instances, they endeavour to preserve in place their varying hairstyles. Exasperated men have found themselves fighting a losing battle in their efforts to keep a few of the windows open for ventilation, and submit quietly but with an air of disgust. Several bus drivers, this week, said the opening and closing of windows in Sydney's buses, especially in the peak hours, had become a game in which the women passengers always won. One conductor, Mr John Reneham, said: "I am sick

and tired of being in a bus that’s all closed up, but w>hat can you do when the women continue to close the windows as fast as they are opened. “I have done my best to give my passengers some fresh air in crowded buses, but I have just had to give up.” Another conductor said: “Women don't care about coughs and colds. All they’re worried about is their hair styles." Doctors in Sydney have issued recent warnings to people travelling in trains and buses not to sit with al! the windows or doors closed, because an airless atmosphere is the quickest way of spreading flu and cold germs.

Car Insurance A Sydney car insurance company has paid £52,000 it claims in the last 12 monthi for cars damaged by thieves It reports an 85 per cent damage rate to recovered stolen cars. The company, in the last 11 months, has had lodgec against it claims for 75( stolen vehicles. Of these 65< were recovered and claim paid on the damaged can averaged £BO a vehicle.

P.O. Campaign

The Postmaster - General’s department has announced a campaign to combat a growing practice by Australian letter-writers to understamp letters and other articles sent through the post. Last year, Australians sent 25 million insufficiently stamped things through the post. During the proposed campaign, the Post Office will notify senders of articles, which are inadequately stamped, that the mail has been taxed and forwarded.

Triplets Triplets have been born in Wimmera Base Hospital, tn Victoria, to the wife of a Natimuk farmer, who himself is one of triplets. The father, Mr Bert Polkinghorne. aged 36. runs a 900-acre mixed farming property in the district. He said this week that he used to scoff at the idea of triplets being hereditary; but now he had given up that notion. The triplets born to his wife weighed 31b. 31b, and 41b. They comprised two boys and a girl, increasing the Polkinghorne family to seven. All were reported to be doing well.