DECREASE IN CRIME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 179, 1 August 1941, Page 7

DECREASE IN CRIME

“KEEPING THE KING’S PEACE’ WANGANUI CONGRATULATED “You are to be congratulated on your district being free from serious crime during the past three months, and I think these congratulations will be general,” said Mr. Justice Johnnton, addressing the Grand Jury at the opening of the quarterly session of the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday. No cases were set down for trial, and there is only one prisoner for sentence. “It is very pleasing to find that there is an absence of crime, and you gentlement who represent the district no doubt are pleased that this is the case. But I think that while you are here one should explain that there is a good deal of minor crime still in this district, as in others,” His Honour added.

Commenting that criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were comparatively light throughout New Zealand at the present time, His Honour said that there were only four or live cases for trial in Wellington and very few in Palmerston North. At Plymouth, where he would preside next week, there was only one case for trial. Throughout New Zealand the Supreme Court sessions, for this time jaf the year, had .shown a marked absence of serious crime.

‘ This is particularly good news at a time like this, wnen every crime is an offence against the king's pca-.e. The least crime we have in our affairs at the present time, the more our efforts can be <lirected elsewhere, and naturally the whole country will br pleased,’’ said His Honour. If little crime came before the Supreme Court, it was in part due to the efficient administration of the Magistrate's Court, where accused persons had the right of trial by jury if they wished. Prisoners who had pleaded guilty in Wanganui during the past three months had been sent to Wellington, where judges were always available. In this way, no time was lost in sentencing prisoners. For most judges it was a relief to arrive in a district on their circuit and find that there was an absence ol major crime. At one time there seemed to be an increase in sexual offences, particularly against young girls, but a very pleasing feature at present was the decrease in these offences.

“There is not complete immunity from crime in this district, but at the same time I congratulate the district on the absence ol major crime before the Supreme Court.” said His Honour, who added that it was always a pleasure to Judges to meet representatives of the district who acted as grand jurors. They were part of the administration, and though some people thought that a Judge had a free hand, this was not so.

The Judge was bound by precedent and principle, otherwise there would be no certainty in the adminis ration of the law. This discretion is verysmall, indeed, and must be judiciallyexercised. “In our jury system the Judge explains the principles and application of law, and the juries decide the cases on the facts presented to them,” said His Honour.