INCREASE IN OFFENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20767, 9 January 1931, Page 13

INCREASE IN OFFENCES.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT WORK.

FEWER JUVENILES CHARGED. RETURNS FOR PAST YEAR. A record number of criminal and civil cases was dealt with in the Magistrate's Court in Auckland in 1930, according to returns which have just been compiled. The increase was particularly noticeable in civil cases, the number of plaints entered being 16,328, which is the highest, figure for several years. During the past year there was an increase in the number of Court sittings. At the criminal sittings 9175 men were dealt with, and the number of women appearing was 939, making a total of 10,114. In 1929, 8959 men and 792 women were charged. Included in last year's figures arc 469 cases against boys and 65 against girls which were conducted in the Children's Court. The corresponding numbers in 1929 were 511 and 72. During the past two years, the number of juvenile offenders has declined, there being a decrease of 155 for 1929 and 49 for 1930

During the past year 16,328 plaints were entered, compared with 15,423 in 1929. The total sued for in 1930 was £326,269, as against £338,394 in the previous period. The number gf cases tried during the year was 13,407, which is an increase over previous years. The largest number was m the December quarter, when 3720 cases were tried. Of the amounts claimed £193.471 was recovered in 1930, as compared with £184,876 the year before.

A considerable increase was shown in the revenue for 1930, which just failed to reach the high total for 1928. The total amount received from civil fees, criminal fees and fines was £29,694, as 7 compared with £27,547 in 1929. The total for 1928 was £29,773. Of the respective totals, the largest amount was paid in civil fees.