WOOL STEALING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 12

WOOL STEALING

MINISTER’S REPLY TO COUNTY PROTEST. “In view of the fact that woolstealing is a serious offence, this eounc;l considers the "Minister's reply unsatisfactory, and trusts that, as Minister of Justice, he will take the matter up and give it further consideration.’’ The foregoing motion was passed by the Waipnkmau County Council, following the discussion on a reply received from the Minister of Justice in answer to a protest .from the council against the lightness of the penalty imposed in a recent wool-stealing case. The -Minister in reply, stated that the question of penalty was, one entirely in the -discretion of the Court that heard the case, and necessarily the Magistrate or justices, in importing the penalty had to he guided by the circumstances of the particular case. It was not n, matter on which he could give any directions whatever to magistrates. “The usual departmental reply,” said the chairman, Mr A. C- Russell. “I am pretty sure that you will all consider it- unsatisfactory. We 'admit that the Minister may not ho able to- interfere with sentences or lay down any definite line, hut lie can surely stipulate what is a suitable penalty and what is not. Wool-steal-ing i/s an offence that is getting prevalent, and the penalties should be made far more severe. “A man in Wellington recently solicited two-pence from a plnfn-clothes constable, and he got a month for it,” Mr Russell continued. “A local carrier the other day was fined nearly £75 for doing certain carting apparently against the regulations. That seems a drastic sentence on a man, who was assisting the farmers, while on the other hand, a man who was robbing a farmer and stealing his produce, gets -off with probation. The whole thing is wrong, and light sen - fences will encourage, rather than deter, crimes of this nature. The ten-dency-of justices is to- be lenient, but the case of wool-stealing is not one for leniency.” The other members of the council were in agreement with Mr Russell, the resolution was passed unanimously- .