GOOD RECORDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 26, 23 November 1943, Page 6

GOOD RECORDS

ABSENCE OF CRIME

GISBORNE-BAY OF PLENTY

i Congratulations to the district on • the. absence of serious crime were : extended by Mr Justice Johnston when addressing the grand jury at ■ the opening of the Gis,borne Sui lire me Court .session. His .Honour said, he was pleased • to say that the duties of the grand jury would be light, there being only one bill to go before them, this ! being without complexities of any description. However, the jurymen must not think lightly of their duties. As there 'was only one bill to be considered by the grand jury at this sessioi\. lie had. thought it lit before saying anything from a judicial point of view to see the learned magistrate who travelled over the wide, district where there was a preponderance of Maoris. "1 am glad I did. that." Ilis Honour continued, "because the magistrate lias a far better opportunity of forming an opinion regarding the amount of crime in the district, and L am glad to state that the learned magistrate, gave me a singularly interesting survey of the work he was' doing. He said that the district was orderly. practically without crimc of a serious nature, and throughout the length and breadth of the district there was a proper respect for law and order." "No Criminal Class" The magistrate had said., indeed, that there was no criminal class*) although there was often serious crime, as there was in other dis-. tricts, but he gave a most encouraging report of the. district so far ®as his experience went,'and he had not only tlie experience as, a magistrate but also his work in the CbilI drcn's Court. Apart from certain inherent difficulties in regard to the guidance and care of the young, lie spoke well of the people and of their respect for law and the absence of serious crime. "Alter having had the opportunity of seeing him, 1 am in a position justifiably to> congratulate the district on the absence of crime, but in doing so I have not come to the opinion formed on an isolated case but on the record of the last three months not only in the court but as exhibited in the lower court."