BIRCH FOR BOYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 10

BIRCH FOR BOYS

MEMBERS OF A GANG NUMEROUS THEFT CHARGES "DEADWOOD DICK" BOOKS SALUTARY LESSON GIVEN [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] NAPIER. Friday A number of boys who have been responsible for a series of burglaries in Napier appeared at the Magistrate's Court this morning before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M. There were 18 boys, whose ages ranged from seven to 15 years, and they were called upon to answer a total of 56 charges consisting of theft, breaking and entering and theft, and attempted breaking and entering. The charges, all of which the. boys admitted, ranged over a period of about a year and involved money and goods totalling £25. As the result of the boys' admissions a number of offences in Napier during the past 12 months have been cleared up.

Senior-Sergeant W. Pender said the boys were members of a gang known as "the skeleton bats." with a recognised leader who had power to expel from the gang boys who did not obey orders. In one case, for instance, several smaller boys in tho gang had been ordered to rob an orchard, but had refused and had been expelled. In some of their escapades.-said the senior sergeant, the boys had actually risked their lives in gaining access to buildings through skylights and windows. Home Conditions Good "I have found that in all but two cases the home conditions of the boys are excellent," said Mr. G. B. Young, child welfare officer. The Magistrate: It is a strange thing that these boys have good homes and yet become mixed up in these "Dead wood Dick" exploits, leaving other fellows on guard outside while they commit the thefts. Mr. Young said the leader of the gang appeared to be of weak character, although his exploits of late seemed to indicate an ability for leadership. He had found some of the boys in possession of a great amount of literature of "Deadwood Dick ' type which, he considered, had had an effect on their minds to a certain degree. Some of the boys, he considered, wanted a salutary lesson and he was of the opinion that if they were "touched up" by a constable it would do them good. "I believe that .besides those in Court this morning there are another 50 boys in the town who have not been caught," continued Mr. Young. He considered the parents were entirely to blame, as it was appareut that there had not been sufficient influence displayed in their homes. Most of the boys had enough brains, however, to know they were doing wrong. Corporal Punishment Necessary Senior-Sergeant Pender: I would respectfully suggest to Your Worship, in addition to any other punishment which you may decide upon—especially in regard to the bigger boj-s—that they should receive at least six strokes of the birch. They should get more than a caution because they would go away with their tongues in their cheeks and treat the matter as a joke. I think corporal punishment is necessary to have any effect.

The magistrate expressed the viewthat the literature produced in Court was not of a suitable nature for boys to have. "I shall certainly order that Some of you shall be birched by the police and by a big fellow, too," he said. Nine boys wero ordered to receive six strokes of the birch each. In addition 13 boys were placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for a period of two years and one for one year, while the other four were admonished and discharged.