OPOTIKI BURGLARIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22708, 21 April 1937, Page 18

OPOTIKI BURGLARIES

MAORI BOYS ADMIT CRIMES REFORMATIVE TREATMENT [by telegraph OWN correspondent] GISBORNE, Tuesday Indicating that in his opinion it woifld be useless to expect good results from placing the accused under the care of the child welfare officer, Mr. Walton, S.M., in tbo Children's Court to-day, sentenced three Opotiki Maori youths, aged 17, 15 and 17 years respectively, to three years at a Borstal institution. His Worship stated that, in view of the seriousness of the offences which the accused had admitted, he could not allow them their liberty. The throe accused were jointly charged with three instances of breaking and entering shops at Opotiki on the night of April 16, the value of the cash and goods stolen being 255, 2s and 3s. Two of them were charged that, on April 14, they stole a lady's handbag and its contents, valued at £ls 15s. The same pair were charged with breaking and entering on March 30 the offices of the Opotiki County Council, whence they stole £2%. The pair admitted these crimes, and also the theft of £2 from shop premises on March 27, and another theft of £4 on February 25, this incident also being accompanied by breaking and entering shop premises. One of the accused admitted having broken and entered a shop on the night of April 14 with intent to commit a crime. To Mr. H. Hei, who appeared for two of the youtly, and asked that another chance be given them, the magistrate intimated that dishonesty of a serious character was disclosed. It would be futile to give them their liberty, in view of 1 * the position disclosed.