The Star. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1926. KEEPING JUVENILES OUT OF MISCHIEF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 6

The Star. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1926. KEEPING JUVENILES OUT OF MISCHIEF.

It was reported the other day that Christchurch had fewer juvenile offenders than any other city in New Zealand, and there was a suggestion that this state of affairs was attributable to the organisations which provide boys, in particular, with healthy means of recreation. This experience follows that of the Old Country, where a very striking report just issued by the Manchester Education Committee throws valuable light upon the causes of the decrease in juvenile crime. The fact that the number of children brought before juvenile courts has shrunk by twothirds in ten 3-ears is attributed to the use of evening play centres. These centres are not designed to discipline children and control them, but by filling their spare time with intelligent interest and showing them how to use their freedom more fruitfully they have contrived to make the children easier to control, less liable to dcstro3 - , and less liable to steal. What is applicable to Manchester is applicable to Christchurch. The universal experience is that if wayward boys and girls can be found a hobby' they will not become criminals. In this way, children who arc placed on probation may be reclaimed if the probation Officer can interest them in hobbies or games. Once on a time the penny dreadful used to be held responsible for juvenile delinquency, and there is a fashion in some quarters nowada3*s to blame- the pictures, although the evidence points the other way-. Indeed, the wholesome influence of the films is to be noted in the hearty denunciation of the bad man and the enthusiastic approval of the hero by- any gathering of juveniles. Children who have an interest in the cinema, in wireless, reading, scouting, and, above all, sport, rarely- drift into crime. Therefore, any organisation w-hich works for the benefit of juveniles is to be commended, and it is gratifying to know that Christchurch is well off in this respect.

The National Highways Board, in collecting statistics regarding dangerous railway crossings, has urged on the Department certain works at Waikari, in the Weka Pass, and at Selwy-n, Rakaia, Ashburton and Hinds. These maybe important enough from a local point of view, but they are quite insignificant as far as traffic statistics are concerned. We mention this because the Railway Department seems to have no appreciation of its responsibility in regard to crossings generally, and is likely to conclude that it will be carry-ing out its duty in following the board’s recommendations. The Department is planning to spend a mere £200,000 in eight years on forty-five of the most dangerous crossings, and if this money- is to be diverted to country crossings, the more urgent cases in the towns will be neglected. It has been found that of 300 dangerous crossings seventy-three are in Canterbury, and some of the worst of them lie quite close to the city of Christchurch. The Department’s policy is mere tinkering. It proposes to spend £20,000 in the first year, and absolutely nothing in the four succeeding years. The daily toll of crossing accidents in New Zealand, not to mention other parts of the world, demands a more serious attitude towards this very- urgent problem, and the "Highways Board does not seem to have contributed much towards its solution.