DESIRE TO ENLIST

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 5

DESIRE TO ENLIST

PLEA FOR LENIENCY REFORMATIVE DETENTION GIVEN (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday It was pleaded on behalf of a prisoner who appeared for sentence before Mr Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court that he wished to enlist. Prisoner was Graham Wilfred Morton, who with. Claud William Reid appeared on two chaises of breaking and entering and theft and one charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. On behalf of Morton, Mr W. R. Lascelles submitted that prisoner would be better in the trenches than in gaol. In respect of Reid, Mr Lascelles said that he had been rather in the position of an onlooker, who was somewhat reluctant to embark on a life of crime, although a partner. “I am afraid it is quite impossible to treat you with the leniency that counsel asks for,” said His Honour, addressing 'Morton. “Up to 1932 you had committed seven offences, for which you had either been admitted to probation or convicted and discharged, and since then you were apparently only out of gaol when you embarked on a series of grave offences, using explosives to blow open safes in country places. “I do not know whether it is the policy of the Government to include in the military forces men of your type, but I cannot think it is; at any rate, it cannot be the policy of this Court. In view, however, of counsel’s statement that you want to enlist I will sentence you to 18 months’ reformative detention instead of hard labour, so that the Prisons Board may consider your case under that aspect.” Reid was admitted to probation for two years.