CRIME IN N.S.W.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1923, Page 3

CRIME IN N.S.W.

MINISTER blames gambling. LABOURITES SAY UNEMPLOYMENT AND SLUMS. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE A.-sO: lAIION. Jteceived this day at 9.-15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Get. Jo. In the Assembly Mr Bavin in moving the second reading oi the brinies Act Amendment Bill, quoted startling figures regarding the recent increase in serious crimes in N.S.W. In 1901 the number of convictions for serious crimes per ten thousand of population was Itl.l. By 1917 it: had dropped gradually to 2J.9 and since that year there had been a Heady increase, reaching 29 in 1922. The number of persons tried before I lie higher courts in 1912 was 99:5 and in 1922 the number had risen to 1910, the increase being proportionately much in advance of the increase in population. These in-i-r.-.i'C' (nine uLoiit de-pite the numb widened network of moral and religious agencies, the stronger and more efficient police force and the expenditure ~:i education of four times the amount so 'pent in pul. It was impns'ilik- to assign any one particular can <• for tin- increase in crime. but Mr Bavin believed it could safely bo 'iti-.l that a huge percentage of the crime ef dishonesty was directly traceable to gambling, which was increasing. The hold that the spirit of gambling was gaining upon the people was tending to produce a ibi-s of men whose eli’oiL was to live without work. Another cause was the uncertainty of punishment. !!■• mighl almost say llie ci'ri aim v of no pimisiinicnf. Li regard m the very large number of crimes ibe Minister quoted figures to 'how that for the years up to 1922. of 21 Id per- oils tried at the Sydney quarter sessions only 19 were convlited. Tim Bill aims at generally lightening the administration and effectiveness of tin- law - against crime. In the course of Mr Bavin’s speech Mr Dunn (Labourite), in interjections, suggested licit the increase in crime was due lo the iiciva--' of unemployment and H-e slums; also to the decadence of the inliiier.ee ef 1 he churches and i heir work. Another Labourite pointed out that there Inis always been an imrea-e ii crime following a big war. My Bavin did not deny i In* war luid something to do with tic- increase.