Magistrate chides parents

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32706, 8 September 1971, Page 2

Magistrate chides parents

* (from Our Own Reporter) NELSON, September 7. Z Parents who allowed their children to 7“run wild round the country,” and who failed ;<o supervise adequately their children’s were castigated by Mr J. W. P, 'Watts, SJ!., in the Children’s Court at Nelson

.-today. -JJefore the court were three wuths ranging in age from l»to 16 years, who admitted complicity in several burglar* committed in Nelson in jjjie and July. The main offender, a 13-year-old youth, who pleaded guilty to five gof burglary, was adsd and returned to the the Child Welfare Dill Christchurch. SA second, whose part in the ojences was confined to keeping watch, was placed under the supervision of . the <3sild Welfare Division after He had admitted four charges <> burglary. -Jn both these cases the J®agistrate ordered each of th parents to pay $9O in restitution, *<he hearing of charges a&inst a third youth, ww pleaded not guilty to a charge, unconnected; with the other fences, and guilty to two of the' other charges, was ad* jdtaned to next week. 1,

Detective Sergeant W. A. Tyson, said the principal offender had broken into five Nelson business premises and had stolen $278 and had caused damage worth $55. In one burglary, $125 in notes and silver was taken from an expensive cashbox which the boys had taken away and broken open. In another instance, the main offender, after gaining admittance to a building, had broken through a wall to get to the office.

“It is high time that parents realised that they have the responsibility of looking after,their children and not let tkem nm wild round the ant, and his parents, die Magistrate said he had been allowed to “roam-round town with these .other hooligans because you have not got the

to look after him.” -