DECREASE IN CRIME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3438, 16 September 1913, Page 5

DECREASE IN CRIME.

A “PLEASING POSITION. REMARKS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] NAPIER, Sept. 15. In his address to the grand jury at the Supreme Court Sir Robt, Stout referred to the fact that relatively m proportion to population crime had been decreasing for years. ‘TBven the prison population/' lie said, ii&s docreased, though during the last 30 years new offences had been created and we have established a new system dealing with offenders, the indeterminate sentence. I thought that would have largely increased the prison population, and no doubt it hae increased it somewhat, at all events w the first years of its adoption. Nevertheless the number of prisoners haft proportionately decreased. Reference to statistics will bring this out very clearly. On 31st December, 1881, the number of persons in prison per 10, of population was 13.77; in 1886, 10.60; IS91 S 8.12; 1596. 7.70; 1003. 9.05; 1906, 9.30; 1911, 8.51. The Habitual Criminals Act was passed ia 1906- Not only has the prison population decreased relatively to population, but serious crime has absolutely decreased. This can bo tested by lb« sentences given. In 1906 1152 received sentences exceeding three months: 1.907, 1129; 190-3. 1085; 1909, 1152; 1910, 895; 1911, 783; 1912, 652. Another. very satisfactory feature of the criminal statistics is that taking persons over 15 years of age bom in. New Zealand we will find that lii 1911 they amount to 47 per cent, of population, but only 36 of the prisoners over 15 years of age arc New Zealand born. These facts speak well for New Zealand youths, and I think every unbiassed person will say they also redound a to the efficient moral training of youths. To our system of education ~