A BIG INCREASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17180, 25 October 1923, Page 1

A BIG INCREASE.

CRIME IN NEW SOUTH WALES. NEED FOR STRONG MEASURES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 25, 9.10 a.m.) SYDNEY. October 25. In the Assembly, the Hon T. R. Bavin, Attorney-General, moving the second reading of the Crimes Act Amendment Bill, quoted startling figures regarding the recent increase in serious crimes in New South Wales. In 1901, the number of convictions for serious crimes per 10,000 of population was 34.1. By 1917, it had dropped gradually to 28.9. Since that year there has been a steady increase, reaching 39 in 1922. The number of persons tried before

the higher Courts in 1912 -was 993. continued Mr Bavin, and in 1922, the number had risen to 1948, the increase being, proportionately, much in advance of the increase in population. These increases came about despite a much-widened network of moral and religious agencies, a stronger and more efficient police force, and the expenditure on education of four times the amount so spent in 1901. It was impossible to assign any one particular cause for the increase in crime, but Mr Bavin said that he belie veil it could safely be said that a large percentage of the crime, of dishonesty was directly traceable to gambling. The increasing hold that the spirit of go.mbling was gaining upon the people was tending to produce a class of man whose effort, was to live without work. Another cause was the uncertainty of punishment, said the speaker. He might almost say the certainty of no punishment in regard to a very large number of crimes. The Minister quoted figures to show that for the four years up to 1922, of 2148 persons tried at Sydney Quarter Sessions only 919 were convicted. The Bill aims at generally tightening the administration and effectiveness of the law against crime. Tn the course of Mr Bavin’s speech. Mr W. F. Dunn. Labour member, in interjections, suggested that the increase in % crime was due to the increase of unemployment and slums. He considered that it was also due to the decadence of the influence of churches and their work. Another Labour member pointed out that there always had been an increase of crime following a. big war. Mr Bavin did not deny that the war had something to do with the