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Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1925, Page 2

An interesting aspect, of criminology was touched upon hy the Chief Justice (.Sir Robert Stout), when dealing with a case in the Supreme Court at Wellington last weelc in which a young man was charged with forgery. His Honour referred to his observations when inspecting the Borstal institutions in the South Island recently. It was found now that no fewer than half the young men there were mental defectives—not necessarily mad, hut showing some necessary weakness. In the case before the Court it was obvious that a young man who forged a degree, which could lie readily tested hy any employer, was net in possession of his full mental faculties. The same experience was being found in America, where a large percentage of such crime w"« committed hy persons who “could not possibly he all there, although being rjiiite rational. Lack of common sense, or whatever it was termed, was responsible lor a numlier of young people coming before the Court. That was our experience in regard to half those who came before the Prisons Board, and we are doing all we can to help them make good,” concluded his Honour. . . “They aie

not mad, hut they lack something, and are in a sense mental defectives, and don’t- realise what they are doing.” “Probation in this country.” observed Mr T. M. M ilford, “has been a great success, and 1 have found very few instances in my experiences where a man who has been admitted to probation on his first offence has come liefore the Court again.” “This is another of those cases in which there is a lack of common sense,” said his Honour when dealing later with the cas(v of a young woman who had pleaded guilty to breaking, entering and theft. “Our people in New Zealand

will have to do something in eases like this. . . I see from the report of the commission that there are a great number of mental c-ases in this country, more than there should be according to its population. ... It is a sad thing to see a woman in this position.”

In this issue appears a first-hand article by a New Zealand teacher now in Canada, who gives bis impressions of prohibition in tlie great Dominion. It must be confessed that the revelations are in keeping with expectations, for it is well realised now that the restrictions placed by the law lias a tendency to drive folk to extremes. It is remarkable bow the attempted restraint put upon the people breeds a disregard and even contempt for the law. The practice of evading the law becomes a general rule, and contempt is then supreme. The writer of the article, a temperate man with a, close insight of r.ft'ai is in New Zealand, believes that prohibition creates more victims of drink than where drink is free for all. This, it can bo readily understood, is brought about by what in New Zealand lia.s been termed ‘‘kog parties.” Quantities of liquor arc brought in either under the law (where it permits) or illicitly and there arc gatherings at which the liquor is consumed rapidly. It is well known that in this country, many young people have become addicted to drink because of joining parties where quantities of liquo are imported for rapid consumption. Canada, has different methods of regulating the liquor traffic, all of a prohibitory tendency. Some of the provinces are dry, others partly so. The writer deals with Alberta where liquor may lie obtained by permit. At least a bottle lias to lie purchased at a time. This is an ineen tive to heavier drinking. The open bar is alwlished but appareiitlv something more unsavoury has taken its place. Tlio liquor, too, is of doubtful quality, and altogether the attempt at restrictive measures seems to fall short of attaining the object in view, lii Ontario where prohibition is in effect nominally, there is evidently much excess, and immorality, intemperance, insanity and other evils arc arriving. New Zealand has kept clear of total prohibition so far. but- it is possible for that to be experienced, unless the electors review the position calmly at such a. period as the present when all is tranquil and there is not the effort to sway the people unduly by exaggerated statements. A dispassionate report such as appears to-day, of conditions i ■Canada, lias its value in pointing to possibilities which no elector would like to see reproduced here by the cureless exercise of his vote at the next option poll.