SHIP DESERTION PENALTY IS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 6

SHIP DESERTION PENALTY IS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH

PA AUCKLAND, May 11. “If the-Supreme Court interferes with sentences of this sort the - confidence of magistrates will be teeriouslj disturbed, as they have a better knowledge of these desertion cases than we have,” said Mr Justice Finlay, dismissing an appeal against his sentence brought by Mervyn William Sawers, aged 20, a seaman. Sawers appealed against his sentence of one month’s imprisonment for ship desertion imposed by Mr Jenner Wily, S.M. Stating that unless the sentence was manifestly excessive or unless the sentence was imposed on wrong principles the Supreme Court would not interfere, his Honor said he considered the statutory penalty of one month’s imprisonment was not sufficient. “Deserters who leave ships cause considerable disorganisation, as they must be replaced before the ships sail, and this causes economic disruption when the ships are delayed,” continued his Honor. “ The penalty for ship desertion is really inadequate for its purpose. It is not a matter of punishment of the man, but a deterrent effect on others. As ship desertion has such serious economic consequences, I cannot allow the appeal.”