Motorists Send Circular to Magistrate

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 6

Motorists Send Circular to Magistrate

LATTER’S STRONG COMMENT Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Last Night. During a sitting of the City PoliceCourt this afternoon Mr H. \V. S.M., who in the morning sentenced four men to long terms of imprisonment for converting motor cars to their own use, made some strong comment on a letter which he had received subsequently dealing with sentences for this type of offence. After pointing out that ho had in the morning dealt with cases of this type his Worship stated that he had by the afternoon mail received from the North Island Motor Union a circular letter purporting to have been sent 1 by the president and secretary. “It is most improper that such a circular should have been sent to a Magistrate engaged in the administration of justice,” said Mr Bundle. “I did not'see it until this afternoon, and had I seen it before, I would certainly have made some comment on this most improper conduct.’’ llis Worship handed the ' letter to Chief-Detective Young. Maximum Penalty for Conversion of Cars DUNEDIN, Oct. 0. The recent epidemic of car conversions had its sequel in the Police Court, wheu four men, all married, Frank CUren Swete, aged 20; Walter Frederick Clarke, aged 27; Charles Nicol Stewart, aged 34; and Frederick Cole, aged 34, admitted the conversion of twelve different cars and wilful damage of cars. Swoto and Clarke also admitted the theft of articles. The Magistrate, Mr Bundle, sentenced Swete and Clarke to terms aggregating IS months’ gaol, and Stewart and Cole to 15 months, theso' penalties representing the aggregation of the maximum penalties allowed.