CAR CONVERSIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 August 1933, Page 6

CAR CONVERSIONS

BIRCHINGS AS PUNISHMENT MOTOR. CONFERENCE EUGGESTIONS (By Telegraph-Press Association) AUCKLAND, 17th August. Support for the suggestion made by Mi- \V. A. O’Callaghan, president of the North Island Motor that heavier penalties should be imposed upon persons unlawfully converting motor-cars to their own use, was given at the conference of the union to-day when the vice-president (Dr. E. Porritt) suggested that a severe birching should be included in the penalty. “In many cases youths arc responsible _ for the trouble,” he said, “and I consider that severe birchings for offenders would go a long way towards stamping out the nuisance.” The lack of facilities to enable the Auckland police to pursue stolen cars was pointed out by Mr E. G. Farrell (Auckland). He said he understood that in Auckland the police did not have- one car which they could use when a case of car conversion was reported. Sometimes they had to pursue a stolen vehicle in a. taxi or private motor. “In Dunedin owners of fast cars cooperate with the police most satisfactorily,” remarked Mr J. L. Passmore, president of the Otago Motor Club. “A short time ago, when a car was stolen, eleven cays arrived at the police station within eight minutes, and the stolen vehicle was rjuicklv recovered. The police had the addresses ol a number of owners whom they could call upon for asistancc in this way. A similar system might well he, adopted in other parts of the Dominion. “The union has been making strong and repeated representations to the Government to have the penalties increased,” said Mr O’Callaghan. Numerous conference. 1 ! had been held, hut so far little progress had been made. The opinion that it would he hotter to urge the infliction of the maximum penalty under the present law rather than to seek increased nenalties was expressed by Mr N. R. Pain (Wanganui). The president of the South Island Union (Mr F. W. Johnston) said that the idea that juries would not "convict in motor conversion cases was a bogy If more Magistrates’ cars were stolen heavier penalties would be imposed.