AUCKLAND CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 171, 21 July 1936, Page 8

AUCKLAND CRIME.

LIGHT COURT LIST.

NOT UNQUALIFIED GUIDE

MORE PLEAS OF GUILTY.

The fact that the smallness of tlie criminal calendar coukl not be taken as an indication of a decrease in crime without also paying regard to the number of persons who had pleaded guilty to offences and had been punished since the last session of the Court was commented upon by Mr. Justice Callan at the opening of the third quarterly session of the Supreme Court this morning. Ilis Honor, in addressing the grand jury, said that there were seven cases for them to deal with involving six people, one man being charged with two offences. That quantity of crimiiuU business to be inquired into at a quarterly session in Auckland was unusually light, and substantially less than the average. That, of course, was a matter for satisfaction, but before anybody could safely accept it as a guide as to whether the quantity of crime was less than usual it would be necessary to go into another question. That question was the proportion of persons in the district who had pleaded guilty in the lower courts and had already been dealt with. Though he had not gone into the figures, his Honor said that those who dealt with the topic had a very definite impression that the number of people who had pleaded guilty since the previous session had increased. That matter had to be gone into before it could be lightly assumed to what extent crime in the district had diminished "Disquietingly Large." Reviewing the cases, his Honor said there was one —unfortunately there nearly always was—of negligent driving. There was also one where a mail was accused of using violence with intent to commit a crime at a Point Chevalier bank, and one of attempted breaking and entering by night. His Honor added that he regretted to say that the other four charges, involving three people, were all unpleasant sexual cases in which the accused were charged with improperly interfering with, or attempting to interfere with, young females. The proportion of these cases on this occasion, as in many others, was unduly and disquietingly large. Charges of unlawful carnal knowledge of two young Maori girls were admitted by James Herewini (Mr. Butler) after a grand jury.had returned a true bill. The prisoner was remanded for sentence. A true bill was also returned against Peter Paul, a three-quarter cast Maori, of negligent driving, causing death, and his trial is proceeding. Tlio following comprised the grand jury:—H. Turner (foreman). R. H. .Ashcroft, A. E. Bach, W. N. Beck, A. B. Black. S. T. Brooking, A. Cahill, C. A. Campbell, .T. Clark, V. T. Drew, T. C. A. Duke, F. L. Edwards, H. M. Geddcs. 11. C Cregorv, C. W. Harvey, T. M. Johnstone, O. IT. Luke, F. L. Maxwell, J. E. Redpatn, C. Robinson, C. Savage, A. Slincer, N. Taylor.

True bills were returned in all cases