LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 4 December 1926, Page 5

LIFE’S LITTLE WANTS.

Revision of Criminal Laws.

The Probation Act is one of our most humorous pieces of legislation, and worthy of being placed side-by-sidc with the “Hush! Hush!” and the reformative detention laws. An accused at Dunedin was? placed upon probation, but gaily wont on his way and finally robbed his employers of £SS. The Judge, when, sentencing accused at Dunedin yesterday, gave him a stern reminder of chances wasted, and then sent him up for reformative treatment, which means that he will have ail easy time, and be kept by law-abiding citizens until his sentence expires. When criminals are treated so leniently, is it a wonder that those inclined to wrong-doing 4 ‘ give it a 'fly ?’ ’ The whole of our criminal legislation needs revising, and put on a footing that will ensure that the law-breaker pays for his transgression. There is' too much sickly sentiment and class distinction about the Jaws which govern our distribution of justice. Whatever the Government may think of the finding of the magistrate in the Baume case, there still remains a nasty taste in the public’s mouth, which will take much cleansing to purify. Had our criminal laws been less faulty, the Government would never have had such “awkward” matters to explain away. * * * * A Brighter Outlook. Since the wool sales a brighter tone is being displayed both in business and farming circles. Even our pessimistic Minister of the Crown (the Hon. A. D. McLeod) seems to be casting aside his Dean Inge mantle and becoming, if not more cheerful, at least less of a pessimist. The moaning which some business men and farmers indulge in relative to industrial and agricultural activities is uncalled for. Times have been slack during the past few months, but that is no reason why all hope of, better times ahead Should have been given up. Of course, it is the fashion in some Quarters to follow any noisy lead, and in this respect the Hon. A. D. McLeod must beai; his share for the wave of pessimism which swept over certain portions of the population of the Dominion. Masterton has experienced a period of depression, but with the introduction of' a little more cheerfulness the financial clouds do not look so very dark, after all. * * * * Forty Winks/ When three residents of the North Shore were crossing to their homes by the mid ; day boat one day this week each wondered why the others were going in that direction, because it was a coincidence that their wives were away on holiday, that they were “batching.” Instead of having their lunch in town (says an Auckland paper) 'they were going homo to have a snack. The truth of the matter came, out when one said that he always liked a few minutes’ nap after his mid-day meal, and home was where could enjoy it best. The other, two confessed that that was the very reason why they were going home; they could not get their afternoon nap in the city, with so littjfc: • disturbance as at home. One had enjoyed the luxury since 1897, another since 1911, and one since 1922. A medical man, sitting on a seat in the*cabin behind them, and overhearing their conversation, said lie was deeply interested in wligt they had been saying, and, if he could only persuade,,the brain workers of the city to lie down and have a nap for live minutes before they commenced their afternoon’s work, it would mean an improvement to their general well-being which could hardly be realised.