CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21019, 22 November 1933, Page 10

CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

! INCREASE LAST YEAR i ! TENDENCY IN TIMES OF I depression | [From • Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON.. November 21. An increase in crime, and particularly in crime against property during times of depression, is remarked in the annual report of the ControllerGeneral of Prisons. Mr B. L. Dallard, which was presented in the House of Representatives to-day. Although the total number of persons received into prison during the year ended March 31, 1933, was less than in the preceding year, the number of different persons convicted showed an increase, which Mr Dallard describes as more or less symptomatic of the times. "It is a world-wide phenomenon during times of depression. Crime, particularly offences against property, tends to increase." he states. "Unemployment disorganises the individual if he is apt to take a short run course and indulge in crime. If, on the other hand, he is a strong type of personality, he rebels against the existing social order. Unemployment leads to demoralisation." The daily average number ot prisoners in custody during the year was 1669.17. as compared with 1634.39 for the previous year. The ratio of prisoners to each 10,000 of population was 22.29 last year, compared with 21.17 for the preceding year, 19.19 for 1930, 17.62 for 1929, and 17.37 for 1928. Although there has been a steady increase for the last few years, the position isj still favourable compared with the average for the live years before the war. when the ratio was 30.52 per 10,000 of population. Last year's figures were also inflated by the inclusion of 102 persons, who were arrested in the Auckland and Wellington riots, and 39 persons arrested in the Christchurch tramway strike, and unemployed disturbances at Dunedin and Huntly. Nationality of Prisoners. The analysis of receptions on a nationality basis shows that the proportion of New Zealand-born offenders (excluding Maoris; increased by 9.1 per cent, over the 1931 figures, while those of British and foreign extraction remained almost stationary. The number of Maori prisoners received during 1932, showed an increase of Ifi.G per cent, over the previous year, representing an increase of 100 per cent, on the number received during 1928. "This growth of crime anion; the younger Maoris is a disquieting feature." states the report. "Probation has proved to be largely futile, as this form of treatment is regarded by the natives as equivalent to 'getting off,'and when on probation any constructive suDervision is difficult to apply as these offenders laze around under conditions of indiscipline and icllene.-s, which in no way conduce to the development of any sense of social responsibility in their reformation. "Two significant. facts emerge from a study of the criminal statistics," continues the report. "First, a large number of those sentenced to Borstal or reformative detention have previously been dealt with in the children's courts, or have been placed on probation or sentenced to short terms by higher courts without success, and second, only a very small percentage of those released after a term of Borstal or reformative detention again appear before the courts. This makes it clear that the system of Borstal or reformative detention is a deterrent reformative and effective form of protection to society. "A steady decline in the net cost a head of prisoners is shown in the last four vears. the co.-t last year beintf Z'62 i.s a head. .gainst £8 lis 7d in 192f/-r;O.-" THE PUBLIC DEBT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. November 21. The report and accounts of the public debt commission for the year ended March 3!, 1933, were presented to the House this afternoon by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister for Finance. The total amount of the public debt outstanding at the end of the year was £208.209.198. The amount of debt repaid or redeemed within the year was £922,310. and the aggregate amount redeemed since the commencement of the Public Debt Act, 1925, was £8,432,603. The report states that during the year a sum of £1,336,019 was paid to the public debt repayment account from the ordinary revenue account of the Consolidated Fund, and of this sum, together with the balance at the beginning of the year ( £15,165 and interest on investments £241), an amount ■ of £922,310 was utilised in the discharge of the public debt. In view of the possible contingencies arising from the operation of the New Zealand Debt Conversion Act, 1932-33, it was deemed advisable to carry forward a substantial balance in the account to provide for the redemption of the dissented securities maturing in August., 1933.