"THE GANG SYSTEM."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20554, 3 May 1930, Page 14

"THE GANG SYSTEM."

TROUBLE AMONG YOUTHS. MISCHIEF IN IDLE HOURS. " This youth has previously been warned by the police regarding his behaviour," said Sub-Inspecfor Shanahan in the Police Court yesterday, when a youth aged .3.8 was charged with assaulting another youth aged 16.

Mr. Shanahan said accused was with a group of youths when they met the complainant, who was asked to give accused a cigarette. On his reply that he had none, complainar.t was struck and knocked to the footpath. « The Rev. Jasper Calder said he thought tbo whole incident was a show of temper. Both youths had been acquaintances for about six years, and the whole trouble was really due to "the gang system." The social workers had given a great di?al of thought to this problem, and Mr. Calder asked that the case should bo adjourned for at least sjx months as it was hoped tliat accused's behaviour would then be vastly improved. Id asking for suppression of the boy's name, Mr. Calder said it would be in tho interests of social work generally as well as of tho boy himself. One of the difficulties was that these youths had too much time on their hands. There was an old hymn which said something about Satan finding work for idle hands to do. The Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt): Well, you go ahead and find hirn work. An order for suppression of the name was made, the magistrate agreeing to adjourn the case for six months, conditional on accused paying 12s 6d, witnesses' expenses.