WARNING BY JUDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20894, 9 June 1931, Page 12

WARNING BY JUDGE.

OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS

SENTENCES TO BE HEAVIER

CASES IN SUPREME COURT

"These offences seem to be increasing," said Mr. Justice Smith, when the first of four sexual cases came before him in the Supreme Court yesterday. "I have endeavoured to avoid sending young men to Raol or have sent them for only a short time, hut apparently I cannot continue that policy," said His Honor. "I must increase the sentences These girls under 16 must be protected, even, if necessary, against themselves." A plea for the suppression of the name of Henry Valentine Bowers, who had pleaded guilty to an offence against a girl under 12 years of age, was made by his counsel, Mr. Greville, but His Honor made no order in that respect. Mr. Greville said the prisoner was only 17i at the time of the offence, and had had no parental control from his early youth. Fie had lately been working on a farm near Whangarei for a doctor, who had taken a great interest in him and was prepared to continue to look after him. Mr. Meredith said it was a question whether this boy should be left at large in a district whero the children were afraid of him. The assault had been of a fairly aggravated nature, and if it had not been for the timely arrival of a school teacher something very serious would have happened. His Honor said the offence seemed to him to have been of an aggravated naturo. The prisoner had no previous convictions, but tho requirements of public policy prevented him from giving probation. The prisoner would be sentenced to a period of reformative detention not exceeding 12 months., with the recommendation that tho sentence be served at the Waikeria Borstal Institution. In tho case of George Moir, who had admitted an offence against a girl 15 years and five months old, his counsel, Mr. Noble, said lie was informed that arrangements were being made for the prisoner to marry the girl. lie wa6 in a position to provide her with a good home. Mr. Meredith undertook to have inquiries made through the police as to the position, and tho case was remanded until tomorrow morning. On behalf of Edward Baker, a Maori, 18 years of age, who had pleaded guilty to an offence against a seven-year-old Maori girl, Mr. Noble expressed doubt whether ho would have been convicted except on his own confession. He doubted if Baker understood what ho was doing when he pleaded. His Honor said he considered the evidence quite sufficient, arid there was nothing to indicate that any miscarriage of justice had taken place through the prisoner pleading guilty. Baker would be detained in a Borstal institution for two years. For indecent assault on a girl seven years of age Walter Birch, a Maori youth, was sentenced to reformative detention for not moro than two years.