LARRIKINISM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7695, 2 May 1903, Page 4

LARRIKINISM.

A few weeks ago we had occasion to comment oi_ the fact that in various parts v, of the city and suburbs there was evidence of a growth of lanikinism. We had good ground's for our assertion, and we f_.b thab the police had only to take action and our statements would be proved. to be correct. The, police have taken action. At the Police Court yesterday they instituted a ch«arge against a youth for misbehaviour, which in this particular instanoe, sojt was alleged, took the form of using insulting - language. The charge fell through, but the evidence given was enough to justify our statements that larrikinism in a vixulenb -hap. does exist in Greater Christchurch. We are not disposed to blame the police for its existence. Boys are boys all thei world over, and among their ranks will al-i ways be found a certain proportion who take a delight in misbehaving themselves. When, as is the case in Greater Chxist- .'. church, the offenders are «*witt_red over a wide area, tho task of keeping them in order is admittedly beyond the capacity of a limited number of constables. The respon- ■-. sibility rests principally on the parents. If / parents either neglect to send their children * to school or omit to keep a watchful eye) on them during play hours they must be held responsible if their offspring degener- " aba into the sphere of larrikinisp. Biro while wo condemn the parents we do not} absolve the polioe entirely. • The latter must be prepared to take their share of the' blame. The nuisance has been so long a matter of notoriety that they cannot plead '' ignorance of it. Happily they appear to ba waking up to a sense of their duty, and,; this being- the case, we may hope that the activity which they displayed in Sydenham will he repeated elsewhere. The larrikin evil in Christ church is a small matter . in comparison with the magnitude to which it has developed in Australia, and we hope and pray that in this respect New Zealand may never rival the Commonwealth. Bub if this colony is not to attain the unenviable distinction achieved by other parts of Australasia, care will be needed- Parents must exercise a strict control over their children, the police will. have to be vigilant and the Magistrates must support the efforts of the police unflinchingly. - .