CAR CONVERSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 14

CAR CONVERSIONS

YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS ADVICE TO MOTORISTS REMOVAL OF TEMPTATION [r»Y TET/EGKAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Friday Figures showing the number of motorear conversions during January and February were announced to-day by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason. He said these tended to confirm the suggestion lie made in December that were motorists to exercise a little more care in the protection of their own property fewer offences of tliis nature would be committed. Mr. Mason said that in December, in discussing preventive measures in connection with motor-car conversions, he had pointed out that the majority of offences were committed by young persons, and the degree of responsibility in the matter rested upon motorists themselves so far as they placed temptation in the way of these offenders by leaving their cars parked and unlocked on the street at night.

"Since making that statement," added the Minister, "J. have obtained returns from all the Courts throughout the Dominion of particulars of car conversions during January. There was a total of 38 convictions for this class of offence. In 36 cases the cars concerned were left unlocked and in two cases information in tin's regard was not available. Jn 28 cases out of the total of 38 the offence occurred at night, and in 16 of the cases the offenders were under the age of 21 years." Mr. Mason said the punishments meted out by the Court ranged according to the gravity and circumstances of the case, from committal to the care of the Child Welfare Department, one case; convicted and ordered to come up for sentence, three cases; admonished and returned to the boys' training farm, two cases; admitted to probation, three cases; dismissed under section 92 of the Justices of the Peace Act, one case; convicted and discharged, three cases; fined, two cases; committed to Borstal institutions, five cases; and ordered imprisonment, 18 cases. In February there were 46 convictions and of these in 33 instances the cars were left unlocked, and 35 of the total offences occurred at night time. Thirty of the offenders concerned were under the age of 21.