SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1933, Page 6

SUPREME COURT

JUDGE’S .COMM EX T

ON CRIME WAVE

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, July 25

!Addressing the Grand Jury at tlm opening of the Supreme Court criminal sessions 'to-day, Justice Reed said the crime of breaking and entering was undoubtedly increasing in New Zealand. Of 13 prisoners sentenced last Wednesday, 10 had been for breaking and entering. AH of therm prisoners- were single men, eligible for relief cafnps. His Honour said he thought it was as well that the public should know >t was quite exceptional to find that destitution, due to the present economic conditions, had anything to «u with the commission of crime. Where a man had been driven by red want to commit a crime, some measure of sympathy for him was natural, but such a reason in this type of case was extremely rare. A largo number of'these crimes were committed by single men of mature age. eligible for camps, and vet they preferred to stay in and live on the proceeds of crime rathef titan earn art honor,t subsistence by accepting relief work. A very grave responsibility rested upon those people, some no doubt,: acting in what they conceived to be n matter -at principle,, .actively deterred men from going to camps. They y,annot appreciate, surely,. that by doing this they, were assisting to manufacture criminals,, said the judge, who added that when a particular class of crime was prevalent, probation could not be granted first offenders of youths under 21 committing tins crime.' His Honour s aid a largo majority lived with their parents. «-nd were not in giecd of food or e'otlvng but were actuated by a spirit of adventure. Indirectly a spirit of unrest at the present, time tended to remove those ■‘.restraining influences that in normal times would curb an active expression of this spirit of adventure. In charging the Grand Jury, Justice Reed said he regretted that the calendar was heavier than usual, hut this might he only a passing phase, The Grand Jury 'returned true bilks in -all cases-.

DUNEDIN QUARTERLY SESSION DUNEDIN, July 25.

it the opening of the quarterly criminal sittings, Judge Kennedy, commented on the increase of crime in. the. district, chiefly ‘breaking, end P entering (eight charges). Other changes involved dishonesty, attempted arson and manslaughter. ■ ! Regarding the latter charge the Judge raid that the evidence might show that- a man in drink exchanged some *t(JUgk ■who incensed thereby,, struck . him on 'the- face'. The latter fell to the ground 'anil fractured .his skull from-whieh he died. v ; ' True, bills ,were returned m a t leases. J .