PRISON STATISTICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 June 1924, Page 7

PRISON STATISTICS.

OFFENCES AGAINST MORALITY. CAUSE OF DEPRAVITY. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION 4 AUCKLAND. June 13. “A remarkable feature of the number of prisoners in Mount Eden Gaol for gross offences against morality "is the high proportion of New Zealandhorn men and young men,'’ said Dr. Murray, medical officer for the Prison Department, in giving evidence on mental depravity. A schedule of prison statistics presented by Dr. Murray showed that out of 44 cases of prisoners serving from six months to a life term for sexual and unnatural offences, no fewer than 23 were New Zealand-born, and most of them were comparatively young men. Many of the total number had served previous sentences for the same offences. One man, aged 46, who was serving six years, hail previously served terms of five, seven and seven years respectively, all for sexual offences. There were 12 cases of unnatural: offences, and of these eight were New Zeaiancl-born. The delinquents mostly had previous convictions for offences against decency, and the proportion appeared to he very high. In the total of 44 offenders the nationality of the prisoners was as follows: Thirteen New Zealanders, two Irishmen, one Scotsman, nine Englishmen, six Australians, one Belgian, one Samoam and one Chinaman. The chairman (Mr Triggs): “How do you account for the high proportion of New Zealanders? Is there any special reason?’’

Dr. Murray: “Yes, it is largely because of the lack of parental control am! home restraint. That is really the root cause of the depravity.”