PREFERRED HARD LABOUR

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 12

PREFERRED HARD LABOUR

[Per United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, August 4. “ I would like to ask that 1 bo given hard labour and not a period of reformative detention,” said Leonard Walter Lash, a labourer, aged thirty-four, when asked if lie bad anything to say before bo was sentenced on charges of breaking and entering and theft by the Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers) to-day. Lash pleaded not guilty to four counts preferred against him, but the jury after a retirement of half an hour returned a verdict of guilty on tbo charges of breaking and entering the shop of Howard Persons, tobacconist. Merder street, and • stealing clothing valued at £(i. Answering His Honour, the prisoner admitted that bo had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in June, 1929. but said that if be bad bad the means then ho could have proved bis case. Ho admitted that be had been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for forging a cheque. “ I think a term of hard labour would meet tbo case,” bo said. “ Ib>formative detention is just tbo same as hard labour, and I would sooner have hard labour.” His Honour: There is a difference, yon know, but not in actual treatment. Finally a sentence of two years’ imprisonment with bard labour was imposed on each charge, tbo sentences to bo concurrent. 11 Thank you,” said the prisoner as ho left the dock,