SENT TO PRISON.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1924, Page 5

SENT TO PRISON.

PAST YEAR’S STATISTICS. LITTLE VARIATION SHOWN. YOUTHFUL MAORI CRIMINALS. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The following is from the prisons report, which was presented in Parliament to-day:— The criminal statistics for the year show that 4685 distinct persons were received into the prisons of the Dominion as against 4569 for the previous year, an increase of 116, or 2.5 per cent. The numbers for 1922 were less than those for 1921 by 426, so that the variation over the past three years has been slight. . The daily average numbers of prisoners in custody increased from 11’13.45 in 1922 to 1127.47 in 1923, or 1.2 per cent., so that for statistical purposes may be said that the gross figures for the two years were practically the same. An analysis indicates that the slight increase in receptions is chiefly accounted for by the greater number of short sentenced prisoners, there being 1893 committals for terms of three months and under in 1 923, compared with 1620 in 1922. The number of youthful offenders between the ages of fifteen and twentyfive received into prisons and prison institutions during the year was 293, a decrease of 47 on the figures for the previous year. This number does not, however, include Maoris, 37 of whom •between the ages mentioned were received, compared with 29 In 1922. It must be recorded, however, that Maoris of all ages received into prison numbered 114 in 1923 against 139 in 1922. The increase in crime among the younger Maoris is regrettable, but It is hoped that the decrease shown In the number of commitments among the older men indicates a diminution in the number of re-convictions of those who have previously served sentences. Possibly the majority of the younger men have learnt their lesson after serving one sentence.