Judge Stresses Decline In Moral Standards

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 April 1949, Page 7

Judge Stresses Decline In Moral Standards

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. “If only one could arouse a realisation in the public mind of the necessity for. the restoration of proper standards, I suggest the good would be infinite.” Mr Justice Finlay said this in his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court criminal session today. “It would inspire a more energetic and definite teaching of honesty and good conduct in the home and reinforce the efforts of the organisations, such as the churches and schools and other magnificent bodies which are trying to show men the higher way.” The attendance of the Grand Jury, His Honor, was a symbol of good citizenship and British justice. Reviewing the calendar, the Judge said that house-breaking and shop-breaking had become very widespread and crimes of this nature often led to crimes of greater yiolence. Another cause of concern was the perversion of youth. Nobody could measure the psychological harm this had done to. boys and girls. There was need for a return to the forthright and robust conception of uprightnes sand honesty and good citizenship that was a lamp to the feet of our fathers.