THEFT OF CARS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 264, 5 October 1940, Page 6

THEFT OF CARS

On numerous occasions attention has been drawn to the peculiarity in the New Zealand law which regards the theft of a motor-vehicle in a different light from the stealing of goods or other things. No one who misappropriates another’s motor-car is charged with common theft, but with “converting it to his own use,” yet were a man to steal his neighbour’s horse, or any of his goods, the common language applicable to such an act would be heard at his trial. Why this should be so remains a puzzle to most people, and for years now successive Governments have not, in spite of many requests from automobile interests and other societies, made a very necessary change. A deputation which waited upon the Minister for Internal Affairs this week urged that the Courts should be encouraged to take stronger measures with car thieves. “Conversion,” said . a speaker, “is one of the law’s ‘soft pedalling’ terms. It is- really thieving, and the law should treat the offence as theft within the full meaning of the criminal code.” That the law will not do so has been the burden of complaints in the past, and will be so in the future until this most desirable amendment is made. Not only does theft of a car cause its owner much inconvenience; most often when recovered the vehicle is extensively damaged, and he must meet a quite unnecessary expense. Moreover in these days of petrol restrictions the owner loses valuable petrol when misappropriation takes place. The Minister agreed with the deputation’s views of the inconvenience and loss caused and that the punishment should be made to fit the offence. Sincerity, however, demands that the matter shall be carried to the point where conversion of cars shall be treated in the Courts as common theft.