The Hutt News Wednesday, March 7th, 1945. VANDALISM

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 45, 7 March 1945, Page 5

The Hutt News Wednesday, March 7th, 1945. VANDALISM

Reports received by the Hntt .River Board concerning the depredations of vandals make disturbing reading, particularly so •ill view of the fact that such re- . ports are by no means unique or isolated, 1 but are taking- on a continuous character. Mr. Draper Ifdid not exaggerate when he stated at the River Board^oa^eting. that "local bodies evervagSaere were 'suffering from a |ptfc|pread epidemic of vandalism.'lt would be manifestly unfair to blame an jalready .over - tburdened Police ' Force for a state of affairs that t has its roots in the mental attitude of an alarming number of people towards public property. The various factors that create such a peculiar mental attitude are hardly the responsibility of the Police. Much more are they ; —or should be —the concern of the educationist, the psychologist, and above all the parent. Combined action by representatives of these three forces may possibly effect a revival of civic responsibility and it would appear that the time is more than ripe for some, concerted action towards such revival. Vandalism to-day has reached such proportions as to become a serious social evil. Courts and constables can do little to cure it. The remedy must be sought elsewhere.