Opposition Seeks Inquiry Into Crime Rate In N.Z.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28986, 29 August 1959, Page 14

Opposition Seeks Inquiry Into Crime Rate In N.Z.

(New Zeauind Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 28. - A commission to investigate the amount of crime in New Zealand was urged by Mr G. A. Walsh (Opposition, Tauranga) during the discussion on the Justice Department vote in the Estimates in the House of Representatives today. “Responsible officials and Magistrates are gravely concerned at the present high crime rate and increase in prison population,” he said. “People are disturbed by these reports and something should be done before the number of people in dur prisons gets to the stage Of a public scandal," said Mr C. G. E. Harker (Opposition, Hawke's Bay). Mr A E. Kinsella (Opposition, Hauraki) said the Government should consider punishment other than prison for some crimes. “A man is put in prison for not making maintenance payments. But if he cannot keep up with his payments how in the world is he going to do so m gaol while he’s not earning anything?” Mr Kinsella asked.

He said drunkenness and vagrancy were other crimes where punishment other than gaol might be considered. The Minister of Justice (Mr Mason) agreed that the Justice Department’s report painted a black picture of crime and there was every reason for people to be disturbed. “The prison system cannot deal with the real problem of crime—the reason which sets people on the wrong road.” “A research committee has been set up to deal with this matter,” said Mr Mason. The committee

was inquiring into the cause of crime in New Zealand. The crime problem among young people was particularly acute among Maori youth. “The Maori’s social ties have been destroyed and he has been plunged into modern society,” Mr Mason said. The Minister of Police (Mr Connolly) said there were two reasons for increased prison populations —an increase in the general population and “The increased efficiency of the police—and that’s something we didn't have under the previous Government”

But, Mr Connolly said, prison populations on a per 10,000 population basis were decreasing.