WARNING FROM BENCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 11

WARNING FROM BENCH

YOUNG MAN'S CONVICTIONS

"I warn you to bo careful as to your future," said the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court today to Henry Hedley Brian! Maunder, a labourer, aged 23, who appeared for sentence for stealing £3 from a man in a city hotel. Maunder, who is serving nine months' imprisonment for consorting with' reputed thieves, was sentenced to one month's hard labour, to be served concurrently with the present term.

"You have been quite leniently treated on these two charges," said his Honour, "but I need not refer to your history, which is not a good one. You are still a young man, and I recommend you, when you come out of prison, to endeavour to lead a respectable life; if you don't, before very long you may find yourself declared a habitual criminal."

Mr. M..G. Neal, who appeared for the prisoner, said an application had been made to the Governor-General for a new trial, but as several Ministers were away from New Zealand the matter could not be dealt with until their return. The prisoner could therefore be sentenced, and if he were successful in a new trial the conviction could be quashed.