JUVENILE CRIME.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18128, 18 July 1924, Page 10

JUVENILE CRIME.

ACTION IN MELBOURNE. LAW AND CHURCH CONFER. (FBOU 01TB OWN. COBBMPOHDMJT.) SYDNEY, July 10. The increase in juvenile crime which is causing much concern in all the cities of Australia, led last week to a unique conference between law officials and the heads of the.churches, convened by the Attorney-General, in Jdelbo-irne. The Arqhbishop of Melbourne presided, and the problem was thoroughly threshed out and proposals embracing extension of the Boy Scout movement were formulated. The views of the Attorney-General (Sir Arthur liobinson) on the causes. of juvenile crime are interesting. He quoted from a report that he had received from the Inspector of the Children' 3 Courts, a statement to the effect, that more than 70 per cent, of the cases before children s courts were for petty larceny and kindred offences, Two-thirds of the crimes were committed by boys between 11 and 14 years. It was shown, that, in nearly every case, the' child did not attend a church or Sunday School, although he belonged to a ■ particular denomination. "Lack of parental control, good home influence, and religious training, is the cause of 90 to 95 per cent, of ju,venile crime," Sir Arthur Robinson remarked. "Truancy, granting children freedom of the streets at all hours, and allowing them to bring home articles without question, encourages- them in careers of petty crimfe. I think the heads of the churches might form a .T'int committee" to tackle tße matter. Mental deficiency hardly enters the case. It is responsible for only a small proportion of the crime before the children's Courts. State actibn in the ordinary sense is not of great value. It would be wrong to say that the increase in juvenile crime is appalling, but it is true that there is a slow, but steady weakening of the moral fibre. It is astonishing how the attitude that unprotected property iB fair game, is growing." j The proposals of the conference for dealing with the problem were as follows: ]. That the appointment of Government probationary officers be encouraged. especially by 'consultation with j existing boys' institutions. j 2. That welfare committees in con- J nexion with State schools he appointed, i 3. That the Scout movement be enlarged and extended throughout the State schools. 4. That attendance at State schools be enforced by the Education Department. 5. 'That the churches be urged to remit the question to the young peoples departments concer\ad. i 6. Tiiat the of Mel- 1 bourne be asked to. convene a further I conference, at a suitable period..