CRIME IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19170, 9 November 1925, Page 10

CRIME IN ENGLAND.

GROWTH WITH DEPRESSION. MR. E. PAGE'S IMPRESSIONS. NOTES ON COURT 'PRACTICE. [by telegraph.—own correspondent. ] WELLINGTON, Sunday " Since 1918 there has been a gradual increase of crime in England, due no doubt to such causes as poverty and unemployment, and the latge number of soldiers returned from the war," remarked Mr. E. Page, S.M., yesterday morning when discussing conditions, in England, particularly in regard to the treatment of crime, Mr, Page has recently returned from a six months' visit to England, where, although on holiday, he took the opportunity to study Court methods and punishments as compared with those in vogue in New Zealand today. " My experience, which is supported by statistics, is that during the- period when wages were plentiful at Home, when large numbers of men were on active service arid conditions geneially were good, crime fell away very considerably," he said. " The number of convictions in 1918 was considerably less ihan in any other period. Now cases of crime are increasing." " They make very wide use of the provisions of the Probation Act," replied Mr. Page to a query regarding the treatment of crime." The Act is very similar to that of this country. As a general rule first offenders are given one chance before being dealt with haishly. 1 sat for a day at Bow Street with one of the magistrates there, and also went on several occasions to the Old Bailey, where I listened to „some of the trials. The impression 1 formed in regard to the Old Bailey was that they were somewhat less lenient in the penalties imposed than we are in New Zealand. That, however, may be somewhat unfair to gather from a few visits." The Old Bailey was characterised by the simpleness and directness with which the cases were dealt with, and the rapidity with which they were put through. There was very little extraneous matter introduced by either counsel, said Mr. Page, and after the evidence had been shortly given the case was summed up by the Judge and then handed over to the jury. The Court of Criminal Appeal, a comparatively recent introduction, seemed to be made use of fairly frequently in the graver criminal cases. In New Zealand there was the right to appeal where in the opinion of the criminal the verdict was against the weight of evidence, but in practice it was not very often used. " 1 attended several of the Courts in New York," said Mr. Page. " There is a tack of decorum and dignity which strikes a visitor from other countries. Wigs are not worn in the Supreme Court, but the Judge wears a gown. Some of the language used by counsel in addressing the jury was slangy and slipshod, but so far as I could see the class of punishment awarded did not differ materially from out own." While in London Mr. Page attended on behalf of. the New Zealand Government a prison congress at which delegates were present from every civilised country.