INVIDIOUS DISTINCTIONS.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 3

INVIDIOUS DISTINCTIONS.

Fish of One and Flesh of Another.

■ A corresondent writes indignantly about an invidious distinction made by Stipendiary Magistrate Dr. McArthur, between 'two boys brought [before him on Juiy 10, on a charge of stealing forks valued at one pound. One of the equally guilty pair was sent to the Industrial School, while the other was allowed to return to the custody of his father. Our correspondent is wrathful at this unequal distribution of punishment, pointing out that the first sentence .is eauivalent to imprisonment for the whole of his young ; life, until he is 21. while the other is no punishment at all: And yet the boy let off has been similarly favorably treated three if not four times, so that the excuse that he is a first offender .will not hold good, and the writer thinks he must have a pull; or belong to somebody of weight and influence. In our correspondent's opinion " they should either both have been sent to the school or both have been set free. It appears, however, that the one boy' had been an inmate of the Industrial School before and no doubt the Bench took the view that he was incorrigible, whereas there might be hope of reform m the other case. ■