JUVENILE DEPRAVITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 7

JUVENILE DEPRAVITY.

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND FREEDOM FROM CRIME. (Pee United Press. Association.) AUCKLAND, June 15. “We are becoming hysterical about juvenile depravity,” asserted Mr Ppynton, S.M., before the Commission, which has been inquiring into the subject of mental defectives and sexual offenders. ‘‘Except South Australia, there are fewer crimes among our children between 15 and 20 than in any other country in the world. Our boys and girls under 16 are. not getting worse.” The proportion of prisoners to a given number of population in 1903 was 34. It was 30 in 1910 and 16 in 1922. Juvenile cases before the courts showed a decrease. There were 1677 in 19lff and 1391 in 1921. Most of the delinquency was duo to parental neglect and much ■ to (ho universal spirit of mischief in children. No record whatever should be kept of a first offence unless of a grave nature such as would require, future treatment. In all cases whipping should be permissible. “It is regrettable,” added Mr Poynton, “so little is done in the schools to warn children about. the evils that will assail them in later life,”