DEALING WITH LARRIKTNS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3963, 10 February 1882, Page 2

DEALING WITH LARRIKTNS.

To such a pitch have the outrages of larrikins iv Melbourne and its suburbs arrived that a meeting was recently held to consider the alterations in the 1 law nccessar}' to suppress the nuisance. A sub-Committee was appointed, and at a later meeting, at which 50 honorj ary justices were present, the following recommendations were brought up :—: — 1. That all male persons found guilty before two Justices of violent assault, or of wilful destruction of or injury to property may, in addition to or in lieu of any punishment to which they are at present subject, be ordered to be whipped in the case of offenders from 10 to 15 years of age to the extent of 20 strokes of the birch rod, and in the case of offenders from 15 years of age and upwards to the extent of 25 lashes with the cat-o'-niue-tails. 2. That offenders under 15 years of age ordered to be flogged shall receive the punishment at the rising of the Court, and that offenders of 15 years of age and upwards shall be flogged within 24 hours after the rising of the Court, if practicable ; but in no case shall such punishment be delayed beyond one week. 3. That section 2G of the Police Offences Statute, relating to obscene, threatening, or abusive language, &c, in public, be modified, so that either fine or imprisonment, with or without hard labour, may bo imposed in lieu of fine and in default imprisonment, as the law now stands. Although some of those present contended that the flogging should only be for a second conviction for offences against property or for offences against the person, the recommendations were agreed to without alteration.