The Hutt News Wednesday May 30, 1945 A YOUTH HOSTEL

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 45, 30 May 1945, Page 5

The Hutt News Wednesday May 30, 1945 A YOUTH HOSTEL

L That the question of a Youth tCentre for Hutt Valley is being by such a widely representative body as the Hutt Rotary Club will be encouraging news to, both social workers and citizens. Because of the phenomenal indusgrowth of the Valley the p|P&lem of suitable accommodation for apprentices and kindred youths has long- been acute and for this reason alone the Youth Mostel scheme should have the •upport of the industrial concerns Whose future is so dependant upon 4n annual inflow of trade learners. There are other reasons too, why this scheme should meet with ; >vide support. On humanitarian grounds, it is but right that local organisations municipal bodies — should do all in their power to provide some reasonable substitute for n home for those many young folk forced to seek or take , employment in the' Valley. Neglect of this problem is already bearing bitter fruit in other countries. For instance, a New South [Wales Police official lately reported that no less than one-third of the total crime in that State is now committed by juveniles between 14 and 18 years of age. This pfficial further states: "If cornered, present-day juvenile criminals will stop at nothing, and i£ armed, as many of them are, they •Will not hesitate to shoot. Before tlie war juveniles rarely carried a gun and they went in more for petty crime. Now, however, their crimes Include house-breaking, assaults, armed robbery, sex offences and safebreaking. The records show more thaij one murder."

This makes very sorry reading . and the question arises, Can this ' * happen here ? To those who fondly imagine ithat this , state of affairs can be rectified by more vigourous police paction, it is interesting to read the ■r\ next paragraph of this official's - report. "The worst offenders#are former ; ' Inmates of the Gosford Home for Jsoy delinquents, 50 miles north of ,' r Sydney. The boys arrange, while in fke home, to meet immediately they get free and they then form themselves into gangs. Many others, who include some of the state's most successful cat-burglars, work alone." | So it would appear that action jby policemen and magistrates canI' jiot solve this question of juvenile L A Youth Hostel w jmight not provide the complete answer either, but it is certainly v wa step in the right direction. It *,aims more at prevention than cure, and as such the Youth Hostel .scheme for'Hutt Valley is deservof the most widespread and vigorous support. •