GANG OF TEN YOUTHS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24535, 18 March 1943, Page 2

GANG OF TEN YOUTHS

NUMEROUS THEFTS 247 GALLONS OF PETROL (0.C.) PALMERSTON NTH., Wednesday Following inquiries by a detective and a constable, extending over a fortnight. 10 youths appeared in the Magistrate's Court before Mr. H. P. La wry, S.M., to answer charges of thefts of petrol, while individual charges were also laid covering tbe conversion of a motor-car and the theft of 75 rounds of .303 ammunition. Senior-Detective Meiklejohn stated that as a result of inquiries extending over about a fortnight by Detective Quin and Constable Slcetli, 11 men had been arrested in connection with the series of robberies. Tliev were operating as a gang and included two juveniles. The total number of gallons of petrol stolen was 247. The theft of benzine had been particularly heavy during the last 12 months, the defective continued. There was too little discipline over the accused, who also had too much money. All were fond of travelling about in cars and would not pay for petrol; they stole it and were responsible for most of the crime in the city in recent months. They did not worry about keeping jobs, knowing there were plenty more. The charges against the accused covered the period between October 10, 1942. and February 28, 1943. The petrol taken on various occasions ranged in quantity from six gallons to 42 gallons. Two of the youths were fined £lO i each for being concerned :in the theft j of petrol. Sentences on the remaining eight accused covered from 18 months to two years in a Borstal institution to two months' imprisonment. ARRIVAL IN CAIRO NEW ZEALAND MINISTER (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, March 16 The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F Jones, and his private secretary, Mr. F. M. Sherwood, have arrived in Cairo from Washington. Both are fit and well. They were met at the airport by Brigadier W. G. Stevens, Officer-in-Charge of Administration, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mr. Jones was particularly pleased to see his son, a private in the Second Division, who shook hands warmly with his father as he descended from the aeroplane. MEDICAL STUDENTS 120 ENTRANTS THIS YEAR (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday As the result of a conference with Ministers, tho University Council has decided to increase the number of medical students entering this year to 120. Dr. C. E. Hercus said that while only 59 graduated last year there would be 86 this year, and unless immigration made an unexpected increase in the population he calculated that tho school's output would overtake the leeway by 1917-48. Dr. Hercus also referred to tbe danger of a surplus of medical students in Australia, due to the establishment of a .school in Queensland and the possibility of (his surplus coming to New Zealand. Tho Mayor, Mr. W. Allen, stated that gifts to Otago University already totalled £490,000. and if there was any suggestion of establishing another school Dunedin would make further contributions to extend the present school. It was notified that the_ roll of firstYear medical students this year was: Olago 116. Canterbury 45. Wellington 49, Auckland 65. PRICES FOR BEEF REQUEST FOR INCREASE (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The prices paid to New Zealand farmers for their beef production, compared with the rate paid to the producers in Great Britain and Australia, was the subject of a question of which notice was given by Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford), to the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. J. G. j Barclay, in the House of HcpresentaI lives to-day. j .Mr. Poison said that much higher prices were received by Australian and British farmers and he asked the Minister whether he would cause the price of New Zealand beef to be increased by at least the amount paid into the pool out of tho producers' proceeds in order to stop the declining production of beef cattle in the Dominion. He also asked the Minister whether the Government would consider increasing the price paid for but-ter-fat to enable the labour reward to tho farmer promised by Mr. Nash to be secured. SCHOOL UNIFORMS A resolution pointing out to the Education Department that tire desire of parents to clothe their children with warm school uniforms for the winter months could be met by supplies of navy serge and flannel and grey worsted flannel being placed on the market was passed at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday. A letter from tlie department had stated that it would be quite impossible to make I material available within any reasoni able time even if it were thought de- , sirahle to provide the comparatively ■j small quantities which would be reI quired for different schools, *