SOCIAL SCUM

NZ Truth, Issue 1180, 12 July 1928, Page 5

SOCIAL SCUM

Flash Harrys Take To IT^ue (Prom °N.Z. Truth's" Auckland lUptf ' When Constable Hlms caw fit to restrict the activities of four over* dressed young hooligans, whose be* havlor at a telephone-box attracted his notice, he was Set upon and during the melee received facial Injuries. THE constable told the court that he * was on duty In plain clothes with the object of trying to detect this type of young rough from interfering with telephone booths. One youth was m. the booth and another, George Waldren, outside. "When the constable spoke .to Waldren, the latter used Indecent language. It was necessary to arrest him. ■ t The young rough put up a fight for it, and witness was obliged to throw him. While he was down and the constable was endeavoring to handcuff him, however, the otKer three, Jack Gharlton Kelly, George Kelly and Claude Howard Manning, came into the fray and freed him. . . With a "let's get to him," the four of them set about the man who was doing his duty m making an effort to arrest one of the pests. Additional evidence having been given by. Constable Hinds to the effect that this quartette of larrikins was under the influence of liquor, the bench observed: "I see, they were full of drink and Dutch courage and resented being corrected. The .four of- them were then brave enough to tackle ope man. . . They also wanted to take the constable down a back street. "There is a good deal of bother up Newton way lately, and it has to be stopped. If they were not so young I would give them a month m gaol." Having made this announcement, Magistrate Hunt inflicted a fine of £ 5 m each case. The unfortunate part about this case is that no such thing as corporal punishment is permitted to be meted out to an unwholesome element, whichcan make such a pest of' itself, m under-policed, suburban districts. The infliction of a monetary punishment does not meet a case like this, and has not the salutary effect upon the hoodlum mentality that is only effectively curbed by a term of detention, or better still, a sound whlppingi It is only through their thick hides that this pestiferous portion of society can be reached; and that these four young long-haired, "flash Harrys" should be i let off with a , fine' -of £5 for disorderly conduct, and a- concerted attack on a constable, borders on the ridiculous.