THEFTS OF CARS
ATTITUDE OF THE LAW
SUGGESTION CONTRADICTED
EXISTING PENALTY
The question of motor-car thefts and their prevention was the subject of a statement made today by the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), who emphasised, for the benefit of would-be offenders, that there was at law adequate punishment available.
"1 notice a renewed circulation of the suggestion that the law looks lightly on the theft oi motor-cars," said Mr. Mason. "'This suggestion is so calculated to increase the commission of crime that when I tind, as 1 do, that it is accepted and promulgated by leading newspapers, 1 feel bound to issue a deiinite contradiction. Under Section 247 of the Crimes Act, the theft of a car may be punished by two years' imprisonment with hard labour. This is the same punishment as for most other thefts.
"The ollence ol converting a car to the offender's use hat by no means displaced the charge of theft of a car, but is an addition to the list of offences. Theft involves an intention to deprive the owner of his property permanently It was long ago decided that a man might steal a ride on a donkey without stealing the donkey, and it was to meet this plea in the case of the motor-car that the new offence was created of unlawfully converting a motor-car. A conviction might be obtained for this offence where a jury could not be persuaded that the offender had the intention to appropi'iate the car permanently. There is no similar offence of converting a donkey to one's own use. Hence the car has a greater protection, not a lesser one, than has the horse or donkey.
"Further, the punishment for conversion is two years* imprisonment with hard labour —the same as for theft. I have tried to make the matter understandable to those without knowledge of law. but whether I have succeeded or not. I hope they will be careful to refrain from assertions concerning the law which, however intended, are incorrect and can only conduce to lawlessness and the increase of crime. Offenders should understand that at law there is adequate punishment available. '*
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19381209.2.119
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 139, 9 December 1938, Page 10
Word Count
360THEFTS OF CARS Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 139, 9 December 1938, Page 10
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