RAISING THE CRIMINAL. Repressing the Hoodlum.

Free Lance, Volume VII, Issue 351, 23 March 1907, Page 6

RAISING THE CRIMINAL. Repressing the Hoodlum.

THE two subjects are not so dissimilar as they might appear at the first blush. In any case, they have both been brought prominently undei the public eye within the last few days. At a meeting in the Town Hall a Pi isoners' Aid Society has been established, foi which we would bespeak hearty sympathy and generous support. Its object is entirely humanitarian It as to help the criminal, aftei seivmg his teini^n gaol, to become an honest and useful member of society. » * • As King Edward so aptly said at a public function m London quite recently "It is well that curne should be punished, but better that the cnminal should be lefo.imed." But his chances of leform are slender if he is left to his own devices. People look askance at the gaolbird and give him the cold shoulder, until very often, in desperation, he ceases to strive after better things and becomes hardened to crime. The function of a Prisoners' Aid Society will be to take by the hand the man who has fallen, and help him in his efforts to make an honest living and legain the good opinion of his fellows. Our penal system is very oi-ude. It does not distinguish the born criminal from the accidental criminal, and it herds them together and pumisihes all alike. Improvement has begun, however, and it will be for the Prisoners' Aid Society to second the efforts that may be begun in the gaol to wet on theai feet weak men who have fallen thiough dnnk or strong temptation. If only one per cent, are rescued from criminal courses it will richly justify its existence and its claim to public support. • • • On the piinciple that prevention is better than cure, the hoodlum calls for attention. Of late he has been making himself a public nuisance The biawl caused by a gang of drunken hoodlums on the Ron a Bay w h a.i f on Saturday night is one case m point. Several disorderly scenes in the city on the same night, and a bold attempt to rescue a prisoner fiom the hands of the police, suppjy further illustration. This sort of thing must not be palteied with. On the other side of the harbour the growth of population demands the protection of a resident policeman to control the hoodlums and hobbledehoys who cannot be kept away from these sequestered spots in the summer season. • » • In the city itself, it is quite evident the police force is under-manned. It is a oommon spectacle on Saturday nights to find young men and mere youths reeling about the footpaths in

intoxication. Where do they get drink? It must be in one or other of the city hotels. Yet the law sternly forbids the sale of liquor to a drunken man. One is forced' to the conclusion that the law is being flagrantly broken and the immunity given to this sort of thing is helping to swell the ranks of the hoodlums. The next step downward is crime. • a • We want moie police. The city must be kept quiet, so that decent people may be able to walk its streets without affiont or anoyance'. In the marine lesorts across the harbour the hooligan who carries his own hquoi for a week-end carouse must not be allowed to be a law unto himself and atenor to women andl childien. Hotelkeepers must be kept, up to thie mark in thear observance of the law. To^ accomplish these ends the Colonial Robert must be reinfoiced in Wellington and its environs.