THEFT FROM EMPLOYERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20539, 14 April 1930, Page 14

THEFT FROM EMPLOYERS.

YOUNG MAN'S ADMISSION. COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Sunday. Seven charges, of theft involving £52 wero admitted by Alexander McLuckie (Mr. C- L. MacDiarmid), before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court yesterday. All the offences were against accused's employers, tho Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited. Detective A. J. White said accused was only 19 years of age. Since last February ho had been manager of tho company's motor accessories' department. Completo restitution had been made to the firm, and accused had given full details of his transactions involving tho stolen money. Ho had also mado a voluntary statement to tho police that he had converted to his own use monoy received on behalf of the firm. Accused's downfall had been partly duo to the fact that ho had allowed his comparatively exalted position to affect his mode of living. In reply to the magistrate, Mr. MacDiarmid said accused had borrowed from his mother in ordor to make restitution. When Mr. MacDiarmid made a plea for probation tho magistrate said:—"This class of offence js enormously on tho increase. In the last ten years tho number of convictions in the lower Court for offences against property has doubled. It has been out of all proportion to the increase in population. ■ Unfortunately the majority of the convictions havo been against young people. In these circumstances it might not be right to send convicted persons out on probation. There would then be no deterrent for others." The magistrate reserved sentence.