TREATMENT OF YOUTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1946, Page 9

TREATMENT OF YOUTH

"REFLECTION ON SOCIAL SYSTEM”

VIEWS OF COURT JUDGE

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, August 8. Concern over the treatment, a young American seamdn, Edgar Randolph McKinnon, aged 17, had receiv-, ed from the authorities since he deserted his ship in New Zealand, was expressed by Mr. Justice Finlay in the Supreme Court. “As at present advised,” he said, “it looks to me as though he has been harshly dealt With? He is only a youngster, and the Probation Officer says he has the characteristics of a child.” McKinnon appeared for sentence with another youth, Patrick Michael O’Connell, aged 19, on a charge of breaking into the premises of Fears Brush Company, Parnell, and stealing a cash-box and money of a total value of £5/10/-. Against O’Connell, who was recently extradicted from Sydney, there were three charges of receiving stolen property valued at £54. O’Connell was remanded for a week for medical examination. - Desertion from Ship. His Honor said McKinnon had deserted his ship for some reason, and for that he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment. “I find that shocking—to think that a young boy should be sent to prison for an’offence which had no moral delinquency in it,” said his Honor. That savoured too much of the old days, before the First Offenders’ Probation .Act. When released from prison he was subject to the handicaps of having been there, and fell into the hands of a New Zealand youth with a somewhat unpromising record. “Then, because he is a prohibited immigrant.” continued his Honor, “he is fined £lOO-when he has only the clothes he stands up in, and he is sent to prison for six months. That is a reflection on our social system. There should have been in our community some person or organisation who would have taken this young person into their care.” Counsel’s Statement. Counsel, Mr. Turner, said he was in the Magistrate’s Court when McKinnon was dealt with, and Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., had spoken very kindly to him, and explained that he would be kept in custody only until he could be placed on an American vessel. Counsel understood that the Marine Lynx would be leaving here on August .15, and he might be placed on that ship. His Honor said that as far as the six months’ sentence was concerned, he had the greatest respect for Air. Luxford’s judgment. There was no more able and experienced Magistrate in New Zealand, but his Honor said he knew that under the pressure of Magistrate’s Court business it was 5 not always possible to give cases the ■ same consideration as they were; given in the Supreme Court. Fie was concerned that this youngster should be sent into the atmosphere of a gaol.' Mr. Turner said the Magistrate had stated that McKinnon was to be kept apart from other prisoners. The accused was remanded.