WHEN MONEY IS PLENTIFUL.

West Coast Times, 26 June 1912, Page 4

WHEN MONEY IS PLENTIFUL.

THE EFFECT OF CRIME. WELLINGTON', Juno 19. It is a peculiar fact that when business is dull and money scarce in this country crime in every grade tends to diminish, and coincidontly there is a decline in the criminal population. These facts are attested by a number of experienced police and detective officers. “ When money is plentiful,” one police official remarked the other evening, “wo are kept busy, but when money becomes scares and things are quiet, wo have an easy time.” Detectives engaged in keeping watch over the no-or-do-well class tell a similar story. Somehow those vagrom seem to become aware of the approach of bad times more quickly than citizens wdio lead orderly ami respectable lives. Many of the thieves and, vagabonds drift away, as soon as the pinch of depression begins to be felt, to places where they can turn the shifts and devices upon which they depend for a livelihood to more profitable, account. The expense of travelling seems to prevent fewer difficulties to them than to their more reputable follow citizens. When they are pushed for funds they have their own methods for solving the problem of ways and moans.

'J’hroo men, for instance, will sometimes travel upon two railway tickets, ami somewhat similar tricks and shifts are brought to hear upon the problem of securing free passage at sea. The theory that a diminution of circulating wealth is attended by a diminution of crime has been borne out by experience in Wellington during the mure or less pronounced trade depression which has obtained for some time past.