“Gross injustice" seen in report

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33037, 3 October 1972, Page 16

“Gross injustice " seen in report

A report in a national Sunday newspaper, describing Ashburton as having one of the highest juvenile crime rates in New Zealand because of the shooting of a police constable, was a gross injustice, said the Mayor (Mr D. O. Digby) in his report to last evening’s meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council.

He said it was unfortunate that Ashburton had had such adverse publicity as a result of this incident.

Youth had a right and a duty to become law-abiding citizens, and it was incumbent on parents, organisations, and citizens to encourage teen-agers to accept their responsibilities, said Mr Digby. He said that a good beginning was to help them to become active in sport, or to develop a hobby, to relieve them of the boredom so common with teenagers. Lack of interest and purpose led to less lawful attractions and eventually to the need for disciplinary action, and there was no future for any who followed this course. The Police Force was for the protection of the public, said the report.

Mr Digby appealed to the youth of Ashburton to seek more character-building interests and prove that they, too, could play their part in the community, because some day it would be their task to help and guide the future generations.

The council last evening adopted a motion by Cr E. R. Cochrane to send a letter to Constable V. Nolan, the victim of the shooting, expressing hopes for his speedy and complete recovery. Cr Cochrane said the Mayor’s comments had been timely. Bad as the problem was, however, it was being matched by the Police Department, which was doing a wonderful job in crime detection.