EPIDEMIC OF BURGLARIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 44

EPIDEMIC OF BURGLARIES

PROBATION A FAILURE. SALUTARY PUNISHMENTS NECESSARY. <Feom Oub Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 20. ‘‘Judges have decided that, owing to the fact that there is an epidemic of burglaries by young men, probation cannot be given in such cases,” announced Mr Justice Reed at the Supreme Court to-day. when several prisoners came up for sentenoe. Counsel was pleading for probation for a married man who had stolen articles of clothing while under tho influence of liquor. His Honor said that prisoner was unfortunate in that his offence had been committed at a time when there had been a good deal of this kind of offence. Something more than probation should be given to young men who committed this class of crime, and he intended to inflict a sentence which would show that probation would not bo given. Sentences were imposed in four three of theft and one of false pretences, and in only one case, in which his Hono* stated the prisoner’s actions did not show criminal tendencies, was probation given.