JUVENILE CRIME IN CHRISTCHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 23647, 24 October 1938, Page 9

JUVENILE CRIME IN CHRISTCHURCH

MAGISTRATE COMMENTS ON NUMBER OF OFFENCES (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, October 22. “Unfortunately for the reputation of Christchurch there is more juvenile crime in this city than in any other centre in the Dominion," said Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., when presiding at the Children’s Court this morning. “Neither Wellington nor Auckland, with far larger populations, have so much juvenile crime, and it begins to appear that the leniency hitherto extended to youthful delinquents has been misplaced. “Not in the past three years,” the Magistrate continued, “has this Court had so much serious crime to deal with. We owe a duty to help youths who go wrong, but we also owe a duty to the public to protect it from gangs of lawless youths such as seem to infest this city. This will serve as a general warning to such that in future there will be a considerable tightening up.” Three boys to whom he was speaking admitted among them 30 offences. Two of them broke open 10 letter boxes, the letters out of which they tore up after extracting any money that was in them, and they also attempted to break open two other boxes. Among their other escapades was the breaking into of several city offices, the Woolston Railway Station, two churches, and a school, with thefts on each occasion. “If you were men you would leave the Court with long terms of imprisonment ahead of you,” said the Magistrate, “and you are very fortunate not to be sent to the Borstal.” . «.

Two of the youths were committed to the care of the Child Welfare Department, and the youngest was placed under supervision with orders to take work in the country.