CAR CONVERSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 12

CAR CONVERSION

MAXIMUM PENALTY PROVISION FOR INCREASE TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT POWER, FOR FINE OF £IOO [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday 'An increase in the penalty for the unlawful conversion of motor-cars will be provided for in legislation the Government contemplates to introduce at an early date At present the person convicted of this type of offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine of £2O or imprisonment for three months, but it is understood that an amending bill will provide for a maximum penalty of 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of £SO on summary conviction, and that in cases of proceedings by way of indictment the maximum penalty will be a fine of £IOO or imprisonment for two years. These proposed increases will bring New Zealand law more into line with that in Great Britain. There the penalty on summary conviction is a fine of £SO or threo months' imprisonment, and, La case of proceedings by way of indictment, British law provides for a fine of £IOO or 12 months' imprisonment.

As the law now stands, there is no provision for charges involving unlawful conversion of motor-cars being heard by way of an indictment. The amount of compensation which can be claimed at present for damage done during .unlawful conversion of a vehicle, is limited to £2O, in spite of the fact that the damage done might many times exceed this sum. It is understood that the proposed legislation will provide for an increase in the sum that can be claimed by way ' of compensation. For some years past, motoring organisations have been agitating for an increase in the penalty for the unlawful conversion of motor vehicles. The question was raised by Mr. J. Linklater (Government —Manawatu) in a question asked in the House of Representatives during the first wfeek of the present session. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, then indicated that the question of heavier penalty was, under consideration.