WAGES OF YOUTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 78, 2 April 1941, Page 10

WAGES OF YOUTH

"LEADING TO DOWNFALL"

COMPULSORY SAVINGS?

MAGISTRATE'S VIEW.

The opinion that the high wages of youths were leading to their downfall and constituting a grave social problem was expressed by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court toclay, when imposing a sentence of two years' Borstal detention on a 19-year-old tailor, Evan Wil* ! Hams, who pleaded guilty to three I charges of unlaVful conversion of cars. When informed as to the extent of the youth's wages, the Magistrate said that the authorities should | seriously consider the institution of I some compulsory savings scheme. Mr. M. F. Luckie, who appeared for Williams, referred to the offences as a "childish escapade." ! "You talk of 'childish escapades" in relation to young men of 19 years of age," said the Magistrate. "Unfortunately, 'childish escapades,' this Court finds, are far too common; indeed, they are part and parcel of the problem that is arising in respect of adolescents and young people right throughout the country, and one sees at the base of it a very serious social matter. That is, that when young men of 19 years' of age reach a wage of £4 2s 6d a week, they are getting as much as many men have on which to keep families, and with which to discharge family responsibilities. "It is paradoxical, in one sense, but natural in another, that these high sums ,of money which- come into the hands of young people are their downfall, and it is a matter which will have to have very serious consideration by the responsible authorities. If their work justifies these amounts, then there must be some compulsory savings scheme, so that they don't have more than is necessary for their needs. They develop a standard of irresponsible spending which they are unable to break when they have to face up to family responsibilities. PROBATION WOULD BE FARCE. "Here we have a young man in good employment with high wages, coming from a good home, yet quite prepared to be led by a younger man, and who goes on'a tour in other people's cars. If probation were granted it would be. making a farce of criminal administration." Detective-Sergeant W. R. Murray, outlining the facts against Williams, said that, in company with another youth, he had converted a. car after leaving a picture theatre, and abaadoned it at Porirua. There they had taken another and driven it to Levin, where a third vehicle was converted and later abandoned on the Rotorua side of Taupo. Williams had not been before the Court previously. Mr. Luckie said that the whole thing seemed to have been an absolutely childish escapade, with no possible intention of permanent theft of the cars. The youths had some idea that they would like to get work in Auckland. He asked that probation be granted, perhaps with some condition that the defendant stay home at nights.. "I suppose that he has been to see a lot of police pictures, which are not a very good - influence on young men of his kind, particularly if they deal with stolen motor-cars," said counsel.