JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 September 1924, Page 5

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

MORE MERCIFUL LAW

(By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) . > WELLINGTON. Sept. 3. According to the view expressed by Mr. Parr, Minister of Justice, when a Bill was introduced by Governor's message to-day amending the law relating to young offenders, the present position is unsatisfactory and the new Bill is on move merciful lines. Young people brought before a magistrate must if sent to an industrial school be convicted and their names be entered in the records as criminals. The new Bill empowers magistrates, said the Minister, to commit such offenders to the Borstal .Institution without recording a conviction. They will he placed practically on probation, but with strict control. Boys who escape from industrial schools have given great trouble. As they are obviously unfitted to remain in these schools, therefore magistrates have no option but to send them to gaol. The Bill gives a magistrate power to commit to the. Borstal Institution without conviction.

Asked to define the Borstal Institution, the Minister described it as a half-way house between school ( and prison. The Invercargill Borstal was doing excellent work, but its position made it expensive to send all boys theie, ami possibly the Government would establish a similar place in the ISorth Island, possibly on new country which boys, under supervision, could bring into productivity.