CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 May 1937, Page 4

CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND.

Though Government records may not show any increase in crime in the Dominion, this cannot be taken as the true position. The large number of crimes which are committed, with no trace of the perpetrators being discovered, is causing* those who study the„matter considerable concern. Every day the newspapers contain accounts of more or less serious crimes, a considerable number of which are never sheeted home. Blame, of course, cannot be placed on the shoulders of the police for this state of affairs, because there must be something in the nature of evidence available upon which the police can take action. The police of New Zealand most conscientiously carry out _ their duties, and, while not vindictive, do their best to catch law-break-ers. Crime in New Zealand is increasing, and though much of it may be of a minor character, that fact is but poor comfort. Were the Bench to do its duty and inflict proper punishment when a chaige is proved, we should soon find the crime statistics in New Zealand providing much lower figures than is at present the case. Probation and. the “Hush! Hush!” policy have done much to encourage crime in the Dominion, and the sooner these two blots on our New Zealand legislation are wiped out the better it will he in the interests of the law-abiding people m a community.