BOYS BEFORE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 174, 25 July 1935, Page 11

BOYS BEFORE COURT.

MOTOR CAR CONVERSIONS. JOY-RIDING AT NIGHT-TIME. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Wednesday. Five boys, all under the age of 14, appeared in the Children's Court to-day to answer 30 charges, involving the conversion of motor cars, theft of money, chocolates, watches, hot water bottles, electric batteries and bicycles. The offences were spread over a lengthy peri o<l. One boy, with two others who were not before the Court, after being concerned in the theft of motor vehicles, went to Picton, where they sold stolen bicycles, and with the proceeds paid their fare to Wellington, the intention being to proceed by some means to the United States, but the long arm of the law had prevented them from carrying out this intention. The police stated that one father, at least, had thrashed his boy severely. The father of another lad said that he also had thrashed his son with severity. It was stated by the police that on one occasion the ringleader of the gang got out of bed late at night and went to the homes of two of the other boys. He aroused them and with them went "joy-riding" in a converted ear. One lad was committed to an institution for two years. The others were placed in the charge of the welfare officer for a year.