CAR THEFTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 8

CAR THEFTS

Minister Issues Warning Adequate Punishment By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. December 9. The question of motor car thefts and ! their prevention was the subject of a statement made to-day by the At-torney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason) who emphasised for the benefit of would-be offenders that there was at law adequate punishment available. “I notice the renewed circulation of the suggestion that the law looks lightly on the theft c motor cars,” said Mr Mason. “This suggestion is so calculated to increase the commission of the crime that when I find, as I do, that it is accepted and promulgated by leading newspapers. I feel bound to issue a definite contradiction. Under Section 247 of the Crimes Act. the theft of a car may be punished by two years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Tills is the same punishment as for most other thefts. The offence of converting a car to the offender’s use has by no means displaced the charge of theft of a car. but is an addition to the list of offences. Theft involves intention to deprive the owner of his property ;>crmanently. It was long ago decided that a man .night steal a ride on a donkey without stealing the donkey, and it was to meet this plea in the case of a motor car that the new offence was created of unlawfully converting a motor car. A conviction might be obtained for this offence where a jury could not be persuaded that the offender had intention to appropriate the car permanently.” The Minister added: “There is no similar offence of converting the donkey to one's own use, hence tha car has a greater protection, not a lesser one than has a horse or donkey. Further, punislunent for conversion is two years’ imprisonment with bard labour, the same as for theft. I have tried to make the m. Iter understandable to those without knowledge of the L.w, but whether I have succeeded or not I hope they will be careful to refrain from assertions concerning the law which, however, intended, are incorrect, and can only conduce to lawlessness and an increase of the crime. Offenders should understand that at law there is adequate punishment available.”