Our Convicts.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1914, Page 4

Our Convicts.

DRA^-N lrilo.M. TWO TYPES. Criminals may be divided into two classes. Many men are to be; found in the criminal ranks who, though constantly in and out of prison, are not criminals at heart, hut fal\ into crime from an inherent weakness of character. 'They are often creatures of impulse. wanting in intelligence, and incapable of pursuing, even with moderate success, a criminal life. Many id' them are victims of their passions, or dupes of others. Though able to earn their livelihood when removed from the sphere of temptation, numbers are incapable of struggling against adverse circumstances, and, cense(|iienU\, fall to the first temptation that is likely to satisfy their pressing requirements. Although there are many whose first fall from the. path of rectitude is due to misfortune, there are others who have either deliberately adopted or continued in a criminal life from choice. .Numbers have ixjen brought up in an atmosphere of crime, and, like others who have taken to it. at a later period, have persevered in the .same course, because, unfortunately, the pri/.es that have fallen to their share have been more frequent, and of greater value than is generally believed to be the case, one fat haul, as they call it, providing them in a couple of hours with more than a month's steady, hard labour could do. The excitement consequent on the risk they are more or less constantly incurring has a great charm for many, and attracts and retains in • their ranks, venturesome and reckless .characters, who, perhaps, under circumstances, might have turned their hands to better things. The freemasonry and good fellowship that exists among these men is really marvellous, and enables many, when times are less . prosperous, to tide over hard periods until the wheel of fortune once more turns in their favour. In contradistinction to the first section of j this class, they are generally quick- | witted, full of enterprise, and often exhibit pluck and determination of character, which, if brought to j play in a better cause, would pro- ! duce valuable results. They live jby excitement, are naturally reckless j and often stake their liberty with I the same lightheartedness that a. man can easily afford to lose. They have their own code of honour, and follow their avocation in a systematic manner, and not in the haphazard style that many fa.ncy they do. They look upon j the world as a favr field for plunder, and view the plodding life of a mechanic or laborer with a j certain amount of contempt ;so j much is this the case that some j have actually .admitted that they, I consider the occasional penalty of ' ■ imprisonment not too high a price ito pay for the period of licentious ' liberty they now and then enjoy. ; They are "Bohemians" at jheart, and ; often only value life and liberty on conditions which, to the industrious ; portion of the community, appear ■ incomprehensible.