JUVENILE CRIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 13

JUVENILE CRIME

WANTON MAORI BOYS MAGISTRATE'S GRAVE , VIEW WARNING ISSUED TO RECEIVERS [UY TELEGRAPH —OWN 0)R RESPONDENT] GISBOHNE, Friday Concern at the number of offences committed by Maori boys between East Cnpo and Wairoa was expressed by Mr. J. H; Luxford. S.M., when presiding at tlie . monthly sitting of the Wairoa Court. Speaking first to youthful offenders in the Children's Court, Mr. Luxford said that the frequency with Which Maori boys were appearing before him in Children's Courts in the area mentioned was a matter of the gravest concern. There was arising a class of boy who was always on the look-out for something to steal. When dealing with Simon Raffol in the Police Court, Mr. Luxford repeated his warning. Raffol, aged 60, an Assyrian shopkeeper, appeared on four charges of receiving various goods from four youths, knowing the articles to have been dishonestly obtained, and was fined £4O. His Worship again spoke in strong terms of the position among Maori boys and said that only that morning he had dealt with six Maori boys in the Children's Court, while he had also had before him other Maori hoys in Gisborne and on the East Coast. Addressing Raffol, Mr. Luxford said that it was bad enough to have Maori boys stealing, but when they converted their spoil into money, aided by the laxity and and connivance of persons in business, then these persons must bear their portion of the responsibility. "You took the goods at a grossly undervalued price," commented the magistrate. "You, or anyone who acts like you, helps to encourage in wrongdoing boys who are unable to stand on their own feet like European' boys. Such a case warrants six months' imprisonment, but in view of your age I will inflict a fine."