S.M. Calls On Community To Check Big Increase In Crime

Press, Volume C, Issue 29582, 3 August 1961, Page 17

S.M. Calls On Community To Check Big Increase In Crime

<Ntw Zealand Press Association >

DUNEDIN. August 2. Dunedin’s senior Mag'strate, Mr J. D. Willis, today urged all responsible c.tizens to spend more time thinking about the increasing incidence of criminal activity and to express their pinions forcefully. Crime, he told the Dunedin South Rotary Club, was on the increase and must be cnecked. The mounting wave of criminal behaviour was a matter of concern to the State because of its effect on the welfare of the community. It was also a matter for individual citizens because it was touching their pockets. ■prison administration c 'Sts are soaring to astronomical levels and still we hear the cry for bigger and better prisons. The more money we spend on prisons, and on making things comfortable for prisoners, the ’ess we have for education ; d health and transport and other essential items.” said Mr Willis. There seemed to be a tendency to overlook the fact •hat prisons were not supp <ed to be guest houses. Indeed. some people were so ( mcerned about the imp rtance of reforming criminals that they seemed •, overlook the importance of the punitive aspect of justice. From every point of view, including the economics of the matter as well as the ♦fleet crime was having on pie community, it was obvious that more active measures were needed to discourage criminality. ; If you aren’t prepared to accept my humble view on this situation, perhaps you will remember that two Ijord Chief Justices of England.

Goddard and Lord Parker, have recently been saying just the same thing—and saying it with a great deal of emphasis,” he said. Two of the answers to the increase in crime were religion and education. It was not in his province to speak on these subjects, but in passing it occurred to him that New Zealand’s was said to be the best education system in the world, said Mr Willis. “I see no sign of education reducing the incidence of crime. I should hate to see the worst system of education if our best has no effect.” Without a doubt, too much emphasis was being placed on reformative measures, not enough on punitive. Reformative measures were essential, but at the same time it had to be remembered that criminals, as a class, respected only those aspects of the administration of justice which made it plain to them that crime did not pay. Other matters touched on by Mr Willis were: Sentences: There could not be uniformity of sentences because there were so many imponderables to be taken into account, such as age. experience. premeditation and previous convictions. Insanity: There was a school of thought which sugges'ed that all criminal activity was due to a form of insanity. But was the youth who stole the magistrate’s car today, the town clerk’s next month and his next-door neighbour’s at Chris'mas to be defended on the grounds of insanity. A great psychiatrist. Sir Nor-

wood East, had declared that crime was not, in itself, a disease. Reformers: It was a curious thing that most of the people who regarded themselves as experts on crime and punishmetr seemed never to have had direct dealings with criminal types and often had never visited a Court. Legislators all knew more than Chief Justices. Mr Willis said the responsible section of the community had to take a lead in the battle against crime. ‘‘Either we are going to bold off this crime invasion or we are not. Those who hate to see the dreadful drift towards crime which is apparent in this country should both act and speak up, vociferously if need be,” he said.