The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1887.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 25, 31 January 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1887.

For U» cause that lacks ctnintwtr. For the wrong that needs reniuU-ice, For the future in tho distaac«, And the geod that we can do,

Incendiarism and arson—crimes of tho blackest dye, and in eorne refpects more heinous than deliberate murder—are said to be on the increase in the colony ; at all events they are still very prevalent, and it has become a question of some moment whether steps should not be taken by the Legislature to try and check this particular foiin of criminal manifestation. The most serious aspect of the matter is found in the low (one of public opinion on the subject. In many circles, one hears jokes cracked about "selling property to the Insurance Companies," and what good a "burn-

off" would do; and when pooplo aro on trial for arson thoro seems to be a general want of appreciation of the enormity of tho offence. Incondiariam hnß no apologists, it ia true, but arson has many ; and it is vain to try to educato public opinion by Act of Parliament. The causo of this low

public morality with referonco to tbo crime of fire-raiaing, particularly in towns, is no doubt to be found in (he frequent fluctuations of prosperity nnd in the value of property. Unfortunately, in this caeo, to find the cause does not suggest any euro; but tlio evil is so flagrant that it bshoves cvory lovor of law and order to try and initiate a bettor order of tilings.

Too other day, a, deputation from tho Dunedin Underwriters' Association waited upon Sir Kobcrt Stout, bringing under lib notice the heavy losa which tho colony annually sustains from (ire. Tho remedy proposed

was that in every ca»o a public investigation or inquest should bo hold by tho coronor of tho dietiict ; and tho bclitf was expressed by memboi'B of tho deputation that tho knowledge* that tho origin of a fire would in every case be subject to strict scrutiny would have a dotcrront effect upon scoundrels who might bo contemplating the ciiir.o of arson. The Premier promised on behalf of Govorninent that the matter should bo considored, but in no way pledgod himsolf or his Ministry to introduce a measure dealing with the question. Tho " Otngo Daily Times," in discussing tho Bubject, Fays that £300,000 worth of properly ia annually destroyed by lire in tho color.y, no small proportion of which is due to deliborato and criminal intent, Our contemporary urgum in favour of tho course eugf'oetctl by the Underwriters' Assoniati'.n, pointing to tho analogy of inquiry in ovory caso of marine disaster, which, it bold*, lcadi to increased caution on the part of masters of vessolß. Of courso it is tho duty r>f every Govern inout to i>eeuro the eufety of life i»nd pros rierity, and as both are jeopardised by wil fill llre-raiaiui;, that crime should I

■ mereilopaly dealt .wtyt'uua "i-uo" public ". nhiw' .'oa'ru, from tho drastic operation of tho law, (hat thero is no room lor sympathy with thoeo liendish pooplu who place human beings in dnngor of » horrible (ioc»tli for tho eako of obtaining pecuniary voikf to the firo-ralser. In that view of (.ho oa-o, wo are of opinion that (ho punishment for arson or inosndiarifin should bo modo more sovero— say, by making it ;v capital offence if lives have been lost or jeopardised by a liro wilfully caustd, or ! y adding stripes to imprisonment. Instances are not rare of special Crimea having been suppressed by tho adoption of nternly retributive tactics, aa for instance tho " jjarotto" robbery, which iras nipped in tbo bud in England by tho proscription of tho " cat." Tho London Metropolitan Board of Works have recontly given tho subjoct of arson thoir attontion, and approved of a proposal identical with that mado by the Duncdin Underwriters' Association. Thcro should bo a further ainondmuifc in tho law, which should aim at punishing caioi of criminal carelessness, which lead to loss of proporty by liro. The guiudiggor i» tlio fern and scrub, tho housewife in her kitchen, and tho picnic party in the bush would all learn to exerciso aroator precaution in doaling with lire if they know that groes carelessness amounted tn criminality. Nearly nil 'ires aro proventiblo, and a saving of J.'.'iOO.OOO a yeuMo tho colony in the present stato of depression is an end whisb will justify the adoption of tho means wo rpvo suggested, oven were tho consideration of human lifo left out of tho question.