IN THE BALANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 127, 2 June 1927, Page 11

IN THE BALANCE

YOUNG WOMAN'S FUTURE

PROBLEM FO* JUSTICE

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post")

CHRISTCHTXRCHr This Day. Mr. Justice Adams ia considering wltether or not lie should admit Nancy Hastings Cair, who; stole £1892 5s <5d from Drayton and Jones, drapers, to probation. Bis Honour will give his decision on. Monday. In the Lower Court the accused pleaded guilty, and said she spent the money foolishly on frocKa, liats, parties, presents, and other tniiigs. She was single,. 22 yeara old, and intended to get married sooh. She had been secretary to Dravton- and Jones, and had full charge of the firm's cash transactions.

"When-, she came trp- for sentence this morning, Mr. Gresson said that she came to New Zaaland from England three years ago. She had the highest references from English firms in regaidtto character and' capability. She was immediately employed by Drayton and Jones, and was placed in charge of the cash. "As far as I can see," Mr. Oresson addedl, "two factors account for her crime., First, she was far too young to be placed in a position of responsibility;- second, there was lack of adequate, supervision, not by the firm, but by the auditors and accountants whom the firm employed, and she was able to steal far too easily. There was not the method that would be expected in accountants. They did not find it oat before it had been goimg on for a-, long time." Looked' at from a moral point of view,, the real wrong, counsel said, was taking the first money. After that the steps were, easy owing to the lack ,of adequate supervision. Apart from the theft itself, the accused up to the presenthad been a girl of good character. Hi's, Honour postponed sentence. After allowing bail,, he said: "If I think tha-fc. it. is possible seriously to consider probation I shall want to know what sort of control there will be apart from the Probation Officer, and what opportunities she will have to earn a living."

Mr. Gresson intimated that he -would satisfy iis Honour on that point.