CINEMA AND CRIME

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1921, Page 4

CINEMA AND CRIME

A MISUSE OF STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, August 5. To demonstrate liis contention, that the picture shows of to-day have an exceedingly small tendency to cause children to commit crime, an Auckland picture show manager, Mr P. Hayward gave to the “Auckland Star” an interesting statistical table which Ik stated had been received irom the Goernment Statistician remarks, “as a suggested “must be a conclusive answer to all those who allege that picture shows are increasing juvenile crime.” The basis of this contention was a j comparison between the convictions of juveniles per thousand of the population over the years from 1914 till 1920 inclusive. This information was obtained from the Governmnet Statistician, who,' however, supplied Mr Hayward with a more reliable indication of the tendency of the times which was ignored in presenting, the ease to the public. Possibly this omission was un- ! intentional, but it serves, as the Government Statistician remarws, “as a good illustration of how statistics can he made to prove anything.” Your correspondent has been given an opportunity of reading the complete file of correspondence relating to Mr Hayward’s application to the Statistician for information, and he lias been authorised by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart. Minister of Internal Affairs, to publish extracts which will place the matter in proper perspective. Mr Hayward applied to the Statistician for a statement showing the statistics of juvenile cases which had (-(fine before the Magistrates’ Courts during recent years. In furnishing this information to Mr Hayward, the Government Statistician called attention to an important alteration which had been made in the law during Gv period under review, for the express purpose of "avoiding record of convictions against children for their juvenile delinquencies, which might- unfairly prejudice them in after life. As a consequence of the operation of this la-w. the record of convictions of juveniles has greatly diminished, and reliance is placed less on recorded punishments (ban upon the moral effect of an appearance 'before the Magistrate and the subsequent attention paid to the delinquent by the probation officer. Therefore, in submitting the figures, the Government Statistician was careful to call attention to these facts and to suggest, “111 the circumstances, the column showing the number of « uses per thousand of total population is perhaps better for comparative purposes than that showing convictions per thousand, it l>eing found that apart from alterations in the laws, or their administration. the ratio between charges and convictions does not vary greatly between one year and another. I might add." concluded the Government Statistician, “that of the «8o eases dismissed and discharged in 1920. no fewer than 010 came under the heading of ‘admonished and discharged.’ Thus, to fairly show the position ef juvenile delinquency in New Zealand it is wise to avoid the enumeration of convictions, and to rely more upon the number of cases brought before the Courts. Adopting this principle. the table supplied to Mr Hayward by the Government Statistician gives the following indications: ■—

; Tnfonnntion prior to 15)14 is not aviiiliihli?. lint tlio fi'Tiiros during tin 1 |)i‘i'iocl oovori'd in tin’s tnl>l<’ ftliow tint for wlintovor riiusr, more' jnronilfw lire ! appearing in tlio Court-s to-day in , earlier vonrs. milking allowance for inj creased population.

Oases, Number eases per 1000 Year. dealt with. nt' population 191 1 1,384 1.26 1915 1,677 1 ,52 1916 1,687 1.53 1917 1.585 1.44 1918 1,552 1.40 1919 1,759 1.51 1920 1,579 1.34