CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1926, Page 3

CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND

HOW IT MAY BE PREVENTED. A WANGANUI SUGGESTION. A correspondent of the “ Wanganui Chronicle ” longs for f. he good old days:— Sir. [ am astonislipd that anybody should fail to guess the object of the would-be murderers in striving to ' wreck passenger trains since their object must be quite plain to any man of experience, viz., to rob the dead and pick the pockets of the injured while pretending to render assistance. A horrible thought, a shocking idea! Yes, But what is to be expected since om cowardly laws have encouraged thieves, cut-throats, and murderers to flock to this country- from every other country. on account of their being no punishment for crime, no fear of gaol (this having on terrors for criminals to-day) and so-called hard labour; a mere silly farce, with trifling, trivial, childish, cowardly sentences; comfortable lodging and the best of good food. Thus our lawmakers are doing their best to encourage crime. Crime has been on the increase for many years past, until this Dominiop has earned the unenviable name of “ The Land (or home) of thieves." No adequate means taken to deter crime even among our young boys and youths. Statistics go for nothing, as only alx.iut half tho crimes committed ever come to court. To cause the criminals in our midst to clear out. ol the country, and deter crime among our hoys and young men. we must “ make the punishment lit the crime,” and not cowardly fail to do so, as at present. Only by the institution of the treadmill. the stocks, the pillory, and. the most effectual of all, the cat-o -nine- ■ J tails, this last for every crime, great i or small, will we cheek crime in New Zealand.—l am. etc.. . CENSOR. P S.—Always flog in public while in the pillory, and discontinue encourage f ing crime by tho cowardly, modem t custom of repressing names. When an - obstruction is found on the line, - stop the train and let every man turn £ out to seek the would-be murderers; they will be easily found in biding a and not far off. We need strong men op the Bench, and not old women,