LARRIKINISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10361, 16 May 1895, Page 4

LARRIKINISM.

TO THE EDITOH. ' ! I _ Sib,—Hy attention has been drawn several j times or late to articles and letters in your columns on the above subject, but how this cnree of Du^edia is to be dealt with rsmaics a difficulty. While the justices at the Police Court are so lenient it roust mske the police officers almost indifferent whether they bring up tbis class of criminals or not. Only the other day, when they ran to earth one of the very worst larrikins in Dauedin for nbusivs or foul language, the presiding justices lafe hhn off scot free. It seems to me that it should not matter in the least on what charge thess rascals are brought up on, the josiies ehould at onco sentence them to long terms of imprisonment. When the police once get bold of this class of scatap tha magistrate should do the rest effectually. The rascal I refer to is and has been for nearly 20 years a scourge to the lower part of George Btreet, as many of the- old policemen and old residents of that part of Dtmedin can testify. In almost every part of Danedia where there is not a lamp post, under verandahs are to ha found bs.nd« of these rasc?Jly yoang vagabonds, who do nothing but use- beastly language and expectorate all round the path on which they stand and make use of filthy > ..-marks-* to women and girl children who may have the misfortune to be obliged to pass. This sort of thing is not confined to such streets as George and Princes street, but may be witnessed almost any evening up to 10 or 11 p.m. in such streets as lower George street, I Caste street, Cumberland street, Hanover I street, Frederick street, &c, &o. Anyone who hag occasion to use these streets can bear out what I say. But this thing is so bad, and has ;" got such a hold of the place; that.it is difficult to know how it is to be dealt with. It is quite impossible for the police to cope with fchi3 matter, ag the present staff is too small. But I say this, that any msn who allows his young daughter (of, say, 12 to 15 years) to walk along the streets I have mentioned is doing that young daughter a harm that may cause both him and her a lifelong regret. I was led into writing thus ranch on this matter as it is a question I feel very deeply, and my occupation takes me a good deal in the localities I have mentioned, and I know what I am writing about. j If you can find space for the abo Tel shall ba obliged.—lam,&c, May 13. . '■■'■ New Ze&iandeb.