PETTY THIEVING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 6

PETTY THIEVING

WAIROA MENACE JUVENILE CRIME RETAILERS CONCERNED CO-OPERATION OFFERED (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. "There is no doubt about it, the position is very serious and something has to be done,” stated the president of the Wairoa Retailers’ Association, Mr. R. Dr.yden, at a meeting of the association on Wednesday evening in the course of a discussion on the prevalence of juvenile crime in the district. At the invitation of the association, the headmaster of the Wairoa District High School, Mr. E. E. C. Boyes, was prejent at the meeting to discuss the problem with the retailers and to seek their co-operation in giving effect to several suggestions which he thought would assist in stamping out the menace. The retailers promised every assistance in their power. Mr. Boyes stated that it was not his desire to condemn Wairoa, but there was no doubt that there had been a considerable amount of juvenile crime in the district and pottythieving about the shops. The position was bad enough to have been commented on by the- visiting magistrate. He was present to discuss with the retailers ways and means by which the position could be alleviated. It had caused him a great deal of trouble, and he spent nearly an hour every day dealing with cases of juvenile crime which did not come before the court.

Shoplifting by Children

Mr. Boyes quoted examples of shoplifting by children in this district which had come under his notice. He was doing what he could to meet the problem, but if his .efforts were to be successful it was essential that he must have the help of the shopkeepers and the parents. So long as the present state of affairs was allowed to go on unchecked they were only bringing up potential thieves. If they could stop it, it was going to be a big thing, not only for the retailers but for the children who were the future citizens of Wairoa. Children, he said, were easily tempted and the younger they were the less was their sense of right or wrong. One of the ways in which retailers could assist in removing temptation was not to permit children to loiter round the doors of their premises. He also suggested that goods that tempted children should be placed out of their reach, that children should be prohibited from taking short cuts through the back of premises, and that shopkeepers should be particularly wary of children too free with money. “To Much Money” He was sure in his own mind that many of the children of to-day had too much money and this was a temptation to others who did not have so much. This was a questibn he intended asking parents to consider. He also asked retailers to beware of children booking goods.

Commenting on the remarks of Mr. Boyes, Mr. Dryden said he was quite sure all would appreciate the seriousness of the position and he appealed to the retailers to offer their whole-hearted co-operation to Mr. Boyes in his efforts. There was no doubt in his mind that there was only one thing to do and that was for the shopkeepers to give all the assistance they could. He was sure there was not one member of the association who was not behind the headmaster in his endeavours.

Several suggestions which it was thought might assist in solving the problem were made, and the sentiments expressed by the president were endorsed by several speakers.