Court Sentences
Sir, —The penalty imposed by the magistrate at the Ashburton Court on Wednesday on three youths convicted of spearing fish seems to me to be unjustified and harsh. . 1 do not know the youths involved, but £l5 seems to me to be a fine out of all proportion to the offence. Which is the more valuable, human life or fish. On taking a look at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court proceedings for the same day, there are two cases against motorists for crossing against lights. One was fined £B, the other only costs. For failing to stop at a compulsory stop sign, the average fine was approximately £B. These youths were indulging in what seems to me a comparatively harmless pastime, but had they been using a motor vehicle in the town in a way to jeopardise human life, it might have proved less expensive. If we, as adults, wish to understand and live in harmony with our young people, we are not making much of an effort by this treatment—Yours, etc. VETERAN MOTORIST. April 16, 1967.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 14
Word Count
178Court Sentences Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 14
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