LAW-ABIDING LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15407, 16 September 1913, Page 8

LAW-ABIDING LAND.

CRIME ON THE DECREASE.

COMMENTS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE. | [EI TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION.] * Napier, Monday. In his address to the grand jury at the opening of the Supreme Court criminal sessions, the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) said that relatively, in proportion to the population, crime had been decreasing for years. Even the 'prison population had decreased, though during the last 30 years new offences had been created, and we had established a new system of dealing with offenders by indeterminate sentences.

"I thought that would have largely increased the prison population," said Hie Honor, " and no doubt it has increased it somewhat, at all events in the first years of its adoption; nevertheless the number of prisoners has proportionately decreased. Reference to statistics will bring this out very clearly. On December 31. 1881, the number of persons in prison per 10,000 of population was 13,77; in 1886 10.60; in 1891 8.12; in 1896 7.70; in 19019.05; in 19069.80; in 19118.51. The Habitual Criminals Act was passed in 1906. Not only has the prison population decreased relatively to population, but serious crime has absolutely decreased. This can be tested by sentences given. In 1906, 1152 persons received sentences exceeding three months; in 1907, 1120; 1908, 1085; -1909, 1152; 1910, 895; 1911, 783; 1912, 652. Another very satisfactory feature of criminal statistics is that taking persons over 15 years of age, born in New Zealand, we will find that in 1911 they amount to 47 per cent, of the population; but only 36 of the prisoners over 15 years of age were New Zealand born. These facts speak well for New Zealand youths, and I,think every unbiassed person will say they also redound to the efficient moral training of youths, and to our system of education much is due."