TWO CAUSES OF CRIME.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16858, 11 June 1920, Page 4

TWO CAUSES OF CRIME.

4 COMMENTS OF CHIEF JUSTICE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELECEASI.) WELLINGTON, June 10. In sentencing "two prisoners to-day, the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) remarked on two causes of crime—drink and (jambling. Colin McKcnzio, with a dozen other aliases, and a rocord of crime covering all but «a period of war service, was sentenced on a number of charges ol theft, false pretences, _ forgery, and littering, to one month's hard labour on each charge, the terms to be cumulative, and also was declared an habitual criminal. The prisoner's driiiking habits were the cause of his crime. James George Tracey, a Customs clerk, had pleaded guilty at Napier to a long series of tiieita, totallilig £4022 17s Id. Counsel stated that the downfall of the accuscd was entirely duo to gambling. He handled £120,G00 :>> year,' and was receiving a salary of *£230. In sentencing Trncoy to seven years' reformative treatment, the Judge 'said it was an enormotis sum to go in gambling. "Of course our people," | ho added, "do not seem to think; gambling wrong, and thero is cncour- j asrement to it." He saw that the! revenue .from tho totalisator receipts at Auckland was £93,000. The same process was go'ing on elsewhere, and j nobody seemed to take, any interest in ! tiding to stop gambling. The Govern-1 ment Departments ought to know wLo were gambling among its servants. Such | things were not permitted in England j or .America. The gamblers must- go. j