“MORE WILL GO TO GAOL”

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1932, Page 9

“MORE WILL GO TO GAOL”

WARNING TO PROBATIONERS

CONDITIONS MUST BE OBSERVED.

FORTNIGHT’S PRISON FOR BREACH

A warning to persons released on probation that they must strictly observe the conditions, or the donsequences would be serious for them, was voiced bv Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at Waitara yesterday. <l I fear the idea in the minds of some people is that probation, is equivalent to a ‘letting off,”’ he said. “If that idea persists I shall have to send many more offenders to gaol. Probation is not by any means a •letting off’; it is simply the deferment of imprisonment for an offence.” The magistrate made his observations when sentencing Henry L. Slight to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard: labour for committing a broach of his probation order at Okoke bn September 8. For driving a car without being in possession of a license he was convicted and discharged. The original charge against Slight was that he had. driven a car while he was intoxicated. The case was heatd at New Plymouth, where he was fined £5 and- placed on probation, for -twelve irionthiS', his license, being cancelled. . • Speaking directly ib Slight, the magistrate said he had made it quite clear to him at New Plymouth, that if he did nbt Observe the terms Of his probation he would become liable to three months’ imprisonment with hard, labour on the original charge. “But you have abused the privilege granted to you,” continued. Mr. Tate. “Perhaps the bbt--ter course for me would have bben to send you to gaol then. How can I possibly avoid sending you to gaol now? If I don’t send you thbre other people may thirik they can commit breaches of probation orders, and that would mean the breaking down of the probation system.” It was Constable J. A. Tocher who discovered Slight in the commission of a breach of his order. He saw him driving a motor-car along Okoke Road on September 8. When asked to explain his action Slight ' said he had taken the wheel in Order to relieve his wife, who had become , ill suddenly. The constable told the Court' yesterday that everybody it the district knew that under the conditions Of his probation order Slight had no right to drive a car. A sefioiie feature of the offence was that if there had been an accident Slight-was not coveted by,Ah insurarite policy Against which it claim could be lodged. - ■ ■ . While admitting the facte of the, case, Mr. A. A. Bennett pleaded On Slight’s behalf that he was a married man with seven chiidreri. Mrs. Slight had a motoring' litefite, but. it had been her. custom, to allow her. Ttu&b&iid. to drive over the difficult part Of Okbke Road. ;They .had /been- to thO - : sale at Urenui to buy pigs. Counsel said he was satisfied that iteither Mrs. Slight nor her husband had believed they were doing anything Wrong; The man had only taken the wheel because his wife was ill. Mrs.' Slight; had offered to sell the car if the Colirt thoright that course desirable.-, . . .