WANTED: A CURFEW BELL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1738, 1 May 1913, Page 4

WANTED: A CURFEW BELL.

FOR YOUNG STREET ROAIIERS. (By Telegraph.—Special OorrespondouW Wanganui, April 30. The undesirable class of moving-picturo has more than once been held responsible for inciting juvenile crime, and, according to statements mado in tho Juvenile Court to-day, it would seem that the evening continuation classes may. in ccrtain cases, be indicated as abettors of the same. For some time past thero has been a series of petty robberies and burglaries in tho town and suburbs, and though it had been established that it was the work of boys, the latter for some time were "slim" enough to avoid capture. Finally, however, they were tracked <j°™, with the result that three lads faced tho Magistrate this morning. Counsel for tho defence (Mr. Treadwell) pleaded for leniency, saying that he always dreaded seeing a boy committed to an industrial school. Such a course tended to make him hard and callous, and sometimes led ultimately to his appearance in the higher Courts. While cheap novels and a certain class of moving-picture tended to cause a certain amount of juvenile crime, ho thought the opportunity to do so was chiefly due to young people being allowed on the streets at night. Some of them had to attend compulsory classes, and, if they went straight home from tho classes, 110 "doubt the latter were an excellent thing. They did not do so. however; they loitered about town. One thing led to another, and ended in wrong-doing. It would bo a good thing if curfew legislation were passed to deal with boys aud girls. Detective-Sergeant. Siddells said that in his thirty-five years of experience he had never had more difficult cases lo deal with, 110 agreed with Mr. Treudwell in testifying to tho general good character of the lads, and seconded counsel's suggestion that tho boys should bo convicted and ordered to comc up for sentence when called upon. '

Tile Magistrate said, however, that he had the interests of the public to look after, and ordered six strokes of (he birch for the chief offender. The father of another boy undertook to birch his son. and, on this understanding, lie was discharged. The third escaped physical nunishmout on tho ground of delicato health.