AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1931, Page 8

AN INCREASE IN CRIME.

For the first time since the year 192122 the prison population of the Dominion has shown an increase. Naturally when the downward tendency in evidence for several years has been arrested investigation of the causes of the increase in crime is indicated. The most prominent last year was the increase! in crimes against property, and there is little doubt but that this was a reflection of the financial depression that has obtained.. As a matter of fact, the increase in the number of prisoners last year was also identical with the increase that took place in 1921-22, when a former economic crisis had to be lived through. There are no grounds for thinking that the larger amount of crime last year was due to any defects in the’ Dominion’s penal system. Only a few days ago the report of an English expert was made public. In this he praised the New Zealand prison and reformative systems. They were,, he said, established upon right principles, ■. were economic-

ally administered, and, considering wliat the Dominion could afforu to spend upon them, reasonably well equipped. They were capable of improvement, of course, but on the whole New Zealand had nothing to learn from Great Britain in regard to prison administration or the control of other reformative institutions. In regard to the latter, last year’s statistics continue to encourage those who are responsible for the working of the Borstal Institutes. Since they were established 3448 youths have been trained in them, and of these less than 12 per cent, have again come into conflict with the law. That is a more solid tribute to their success than even the commendation of oversea experts, proving beyond doubt that reformation is not only possible but probable among youths who are often more wayward and headstrong than of really criminal instincts. The same may be said of the probation system, which in 90 per cent, of cases has proved successful, besides saving the State the enormous cost of maintaining a much larger prison population. One unpleasant feature of last year's crime statistics is that they reveal a fairly large increase in the number of young women committed to prison. This again is probably a reflection of the economic difficulties, though it is a problem that needs prompt attention if it is not to become a menace to the social life of the Dominion.