MUST BE OBSERVED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1941, Page 6

MUST BE OBSERVED

A man who was caught trespassing on a defence reserve was sentenced by a Magistrate yesterday to 21 days' hard labour. The man had been in prison for a Aveek and the penalty was therefore equivalent to four weeks' imprisonment—double the penalty imposed by the same Magistrate in another case for a similar offence not very long ago. The Magistrate remarked that apparently this previous penalty had not proved a sufficient deterrent. The police stated that the man was of German descent and had in his possession a pair of powerful binoculars. Without attaching any undue weight to these circumstances, which were mentioned by the police but were not pressed as ground for a heavier penalty, it is evident that the trespass was one

entirely Avitliout excuse. As such it Avas rightly treated as a grave wartime offence. There can at this time be no reason for dealing lightly Avith such breaches of the regulations. In the early days of the Avar people accustomed to go here and there Avithout hindrance might often have offended ignorantly. Noav everybody should know hoAV necessary it is to obey the regulations. More Avarnings cannot be given. Vigilance and salutary punishment for offenders are called for. The recent case will be an assurance to the public that this

is recognised".