THE TRAINING OF CRIMINALS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 8

THE TRAINING OF CRIMINALS.

. Sir,—Dr. Findlay's,viewson:th'e reform of criminals-and prison management havo been very, ably sot- out,, and those, who have had the privilege to hear him speak on the subject .liavo acknowledged his • good sense .and sincerity; but why, oh why, can ho not, to speak: in the . vulgar tongue, "go ■ the whole; hog" and sweep away the training school for crirao which the Government has established by .'forcing the. legalised practice of bookmaking on ani unwilling community P ■. /' In a crowd where there is one honest, bookmaker'working there: are. ten spielers - and rogues, with practices the inexperienced youth,' whose inclination is for a little -fling and leads him to bet, rapidly becomes familiar, and by whose sharp tricks and swindles his distinction between honesty and 'dishonesty is quickly- confused, so that' he • soon, applies his degraded- energies to other fields, and but too frequently ends with' embezzlement or robbery; The Government that maintains . aid forces on the public ■ a legalised' army of bookmakers,, is guilty of an offence against morals by creating. a training school for criminals. ! One of the powers has benevolently said "those men must live." So. must burglars, "thieves; and prostitutes, but the Government need not aid them to lead dishonest lives or faciliate their imparting their evil practices to th' 6 rising: generation. Having had' some facility' for •,learning the evil results' of: the now legalised system of bookmaking, I would i.go. so far as to say that betting in any place of sport, or amusement where .the , public are admitted either free or by payment should bo made a punishable offence. The' right men would then bo in gaol, and many a good lad would never get there. who" is now. introduced by the Government proteges.—l am, etc,, \ •■; ■X. v May 22. ...