Reparation

Press, 11 October 1986, Page 18

Reparation

Sir, —The editorial on October 2, “Making the criminal pay,” is most commendable. Recently, thousands of concerned New Zealanders sent submissions to the Government asking for more realistic penalties to be imposed by the courts to combat the increasing amount of crime. The person who fraudulently obtained more than $37,000 in social welfare payments, admitted the offence, in the District Court at Wellington, and offered to pay restitution. When $2O a week was suggested, the court decided, however, that, because it would take so long to repay the debt, an order would be “ridiculous,” and therefore waived reparation. One must question the wisdom of the court in dismissing reparation on such a large amount of money. Surely crime of this nature, regardless of how much money is involved, and circumstances, demands that reparation be automatically imposed, thus leaving the court no option. — Yours, etc., STAN HEMSLEY. October 4, 1986.