BEHAVIOUR OF YOUTHS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 2

BEHAVIOUR OF YOUTHS

DRINKING IN PUBLIC ALLEGED VICAR’S LETTER TO COUNCIL “The Press'* Special Service MASTERTON, October 19. Allegations of flagrant drinking by young boys of the Greytown district in public places were made in an open letter to the Greytown Borough Council by the vicar of Grey town (the Rev; G. P. Cook). The council decided to send copies of the letter to six responsible authorities for comment. Mr Cook said he had lived in many New Zealand communities, including some considered rough, but it was the first time he had lived in a community so out of hand that a group of thoughtless youths were certain that they could behave as they pleased. “My informtion.” he wrote, “includes reports of lads of 16 being peen drunk in a public place in the company of older men: lads of 16 to 18 going openly into a hotel in broad daylight: young lads being handed liquor by older persons, ana drinking it publicly about our streets. “The police have considerable powers and defined duties. If they fail to carry them out, it is for the community to see that they do. I say that the conditions in our town are a reflection first on you and then on all its responsible citizens.” The council decided to send copies of Mr Cook’s letter to the local policeman, Constable A. W. Nalder, Mr J. R. Drummond, S.M., Inspector J. H. Dennehy, officer in charge of the Wairarapa police district, the member of Parliament for Wairarapa, Mr B. V, Cooksley, the Minister of Justice (Mr Marshall), and the Controller-General of Police (Mr S. T. Barnett). “If these responsible people cannot do anything, the burden of responsibility should not be upon us,’ 5 said the Mayor (Mr A. W. Horton).