Punishment of Car Thieves

Northern Advocate, 25 January 1939, Page 6

Punishment of Car Thieves

THE Minister of Justice, the Hon H. G. R. Mason, is quite right in Ins contention that the Administration should not attempt to influence magistrates toward imposing heavier or lighter sentences on any particular class of offender. The question has arisen as a result of the alarming increase in the theft or “conversion” of ears, and the natural public concern arising from the apparent leniency with which many of the delinquents are treated.

At the same time it should be pointed out that a colleague of Mr Mason’s, the Hon. R. Semple, did not hesitate to issue what practically amounted to precise instructions to magistrates as to the course they should follow when dealing with offenders in another class of motoring offence, that of driving while intoxicated.

There is good reason to suspect that a number of magistrates took the cue from Mr Semple, and immediately started imposing gaol sentences, where previously fines had been considered adequate to meet cases in which no damage or injury was done.

The present position in New Zealand is that while drunkenness at the wheel is rightly considered a serious offence, and by most magistrates is punished accordingly, the theft or “conversion” of cars is often viewed as little worse than harmless skylarking. Although this view may be held by many magistrates, it is certainly not shared by any motorists who have had the misfortune to suffer the inconvenience, anxiety, and often the severe financial loss inseparable from having their cars stolen.

It is unfortunate that an attitude of mistaken sentimentalism towards youthful offenders has contributed to the prevailing impression that no very painful consequences will befall those who steal other people’s ears. A short period of reformative detention is usually considered adequate, whereas, where youths of 20 or under are concerned, it would probably be more efficacious if they could be given a stiff taste of corporal punishment.

An unfortunate feature is that car stealing is frequently an apprenticeship to more serious forms of crime, and for this reason alone it is important that it should be firmly discouraged.