GANG OF YOUNG CRIMINALS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 56, 30 November 1926, Page 16

GANG OF YOUNG CRIMINALS

ACTIVE . IN PALMERSTON

AUTHORITY’S SURPRISING REVELATIONS

Palmerston North, November *29. 'Accounts of young hooligans who move fcbout the large cities ot the world in clans and indulging in lawlessness are received with feady credence, but the revelation that such a condition of things exists in Palmerston North will come as disturbing nows. The activities Of a sixteen-year-old detective who is woiking in tho night to win them to a better work adds a picturesque touch. "There is existent in this town a gang of lads of between thirteen and fifteen years, which is led by a boy who is going the right way to prison/’ said Mr. F. M. Keesing, secretary of the Palmerston North Y’.M.C.A... and Child Welfare Officer, in the 'course of an address to the members of the Rotary Club to-day. "This lad has been concerned in two very serious cases of theft, and while other boys of the gang have gone . down to Weraroa, he, the ringleader, remains at largo. “The existence of this gang and an account of their activities was given me by a boy of sixteen years, who is another Sherlock Holmes," continued the speaker. "Ho styles himself an amateur detective, but I think he is £noro of a professional. He goes round the town > every night, and whenever tho gang get up to mischief he knows all about it even before the police. You have heard of bottle-throwing and such things; '.they come about through this gang. 1 do not know whether you have ever seen a gang of boys about town with .their hats pulled down over their faces. If you have, you, will know it is the gang of which I speak. ' , "The young detective has already Bulled three boys out of the band and/put thorn on the right track. That is his feeling; he does not want them to get into, the hands of the police. The gang is composed of boys from homes, to hear of which would surprise you were I to name them. Tam hoping to got them all in some constructive work. "Then there is another gang of boys from 16 to 17 years," continued tho speaker. "I do not know whether you hatfe noticed any of them drunk in The Square on Saturday nights. These revelations were made by Mr. Keesing, in the course of an address on boys’ work, in which, he used local instances to show the different classes of boys encountered, and the difficulties which confronted workers who were seeking do give boys the chance in lite they never had. Boys were not easily finding their way through to manhood to-day, said Mr. Keesing, and it took a great - deal of care and attention to assist them to become clean-living, cleanbodied men in time to come. "I am looking forward to the day 'when people will realise that the life of the boys is the most important thing the community can care for, said the speaker. "In ancient Greece the most worthy men were empowered to /govern and destine the young, life ci the community. J They helped the boys ‘to grow up in the right ideals. I can seen that in a few years such men win be employed on the staff of town government —men v/ho are youth work directors on a floating commission, who will establish a bureau which will help all the boys of the country when they are ’ ,in trouble. That is a vision,, but I hope that some day a town m New Zealand will start the movement, which is to be found already in some parts of the world. I feel that then will boys in towns such as Palmerston North be helped in tho future,"