YOUTHFUL OUTLAWS MUST BE CURBED

NZ Truth, Issue 1229, 20 June 1929, Page 2

YOUTHFUL OUTLAWS MUST BE CURBED

The Weraroa training farm, near Levin, may be a model establishment, and the system m vogue there may work wonders m turning erring youth into the straight and narrow pathj but m the opinion of the residents m the neighborhood it offers too many openings through which inmates escape and roam, if only for a brief space, m the Elysian fields of liberty, to the discomfort and fear of peaceful crtizrans. . 1' , .

A STRONG feeling exists m the district that escape is all too easy, and so frequent have become the escapades of' escaped trainees during the last two years "that residents round about Ohau and Weraroa do not feel disposed to leave their women- folk alone at night. Shops have been broken into and ■■any a whare has been rifled of its contents. . ' Even motor-cars have received attention, and the damage inflicted has tun into considerable sums. There is surely something radically wrong with a system that permits boys to escape so easily that innocent women ahd children are terrorised and shopkeepers have to insta! strong shutters and steel bars to protect their premises. It can readily be understood that the

_ . - - Typical Cases — ; :

department is not anxious, to.' tell the world every -time, an inmate makes a get-away, but occasionally their deeds are so daring, and savor so much of to"c lamented Buffalo Bill or Nick Carter, that the outside public sits up and takes notice. For instance, there was the case of two escaped boys who stole a motor-, car, arid, when caught by the owner m another car, took to the scrub. When the pursuing car was left momentarily unattended, the boys dashed out of the scrub again and tried to make a fresh attempt to ride away m it. Another resident of Levin can tell how his new car was stolen „ and run without oil until the bearings seized up. These are only two instances, but affected people m the district aver that the number who have escaped

and been recaptured during the last two years runs into double figures. The latest instance concerned two boys who escaped and were captured at Porirua, whence they had made their way per medium of a goods train m approved American, hobo style. These lads got away m their' pyjamas, and and householders spent a couple of anxious nights until they were, caught again, as it was obvious that their first need would be clothes and food and someone was due to provide them. Some of the men folk had to remain up all night and keep a look-out m a certain part of the district where the youths had been observed at sundown. HiiiiniiiiiiiiniuiiuiiiiiiimiimiiimuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiniHiiii'j:

I Muddled! j | THE witness was flustered. | | ..* Counsel for the husband | I had cross-examined her at | 1 some length and finally asked „= 1 why she wanted to take her | | child from its grandmother. | I "Because she is not m a = I- state fit of health," returned | | witness on the verge of tears. |

To accentuate the general perturbation that is felt m the district by the" resident women folk and the irritation and annoyance of the men, is the wanton damage, that the lads' commit when they break into ; places to get supplies. In one store . two escapees fitted, themselves from top to. toe in', new clothes, and then proceeded to stickskewers and candles into blocks of ca^e, empty the contents of the confectionery show-case outside, and generally make a mess. , In a cheese factory where two others gained entry, they amused themselves by sticking knives into, and hacking about, valuable cheeses.

Another small shopkeeper, m poor circumstances m Levin, entered his shop one morning to find several pounds missing from his till. He was probably the one man m the district who could least afford to be robbed. Yet these unfortunate people have no redress and those who have taken the. matter up with the authorities have received only a sympathetic reply and a 'promise that an endeavor would be made to keep the lads m safer custody m future. This Was some months agro, but the lads still continue to find their way to liberty. Perhaps they are not aware of the department's feelings m the matter or they would possibly be more considerate. "Truth," however, is aware of the feelings of the section of the public

Too Frequent

vitally concerned and indignation is running high. It certainly does not seem to be too much to ask of the Education Department that the corrective establishments should be run with a proper care for the interests of ordinary citizens or else removed to a locality where population is scarce, and escape difficult as is the case with the inebriatesislands. As it is with Weraroa, escapes are So frequent and the results so disturbing that it is riot surprising that lax control is hinted at. This matter is one of such vital importance not only to residents affected, but to the efficiency of our corrective system genei'ally, that strong and effective action is called for from the department or the Minister before the public mind will be set at rest.