DIMINUTION OF CRIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22720, 5 November 1935, Page 7

DIMINUTION OF CRIME

NEW PLYMOUTH’S RECORD WHITE GLOVES TO JUDGE (Per United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, November 4. The ceremony of presenting white gloves to the judge as an indication of a clean criminal sheet took place at the quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court this morning. Not within the recollection of those associated with the New Plymouth court has such an event taken place here before, and the records of the past 35 years confirm this. Mr Justice Reed congratulated the district and said there was marked evidence throughout the Dominion of a con .derable diminution of crime, and this was supported by the fact that the number in gaol had been gradually dropping. His Honor suggested that one reason for the improvement was that men on being released from prison, instead of drifting back to crime through lack of work, were finding at least temporary employment in numerous camps which assisted them till permanent work was found. His Honor added that excessive drinking had also decreased considerably and that helped towards a diminution of crime. The system of declaring men habitual criminals also helped, and in this connection the powers given to magistrates to declare men “ habitual offenders ” assisted to control 1 such offences ns vagrancy. His Honor discharged the jury.