“OMINOUS SIGNS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2719, 10 April 1924, Page 2

“OMINOUS SIGNS.”

BEXTING EVIL IN NEW ZEALAND. IS IT BECOMING MASTER ? MAGISTRATE’S SPEECH FROM THE BENCH. Auckland. Yesterday. “This is another instance of a good man going wrong through our natural asininity of betting.” said Mr Poynton, S.M.. in giving judgment in the ease in which Thomas Walker, aged 23, clerk of the Auckland Land Board office, was charged with stealing £6 and £5 3/2. “It is now a question whether the State will control gambling or it the State. Already there are ominous signs that it has perilously nearly attained the mastery. Here is a list of only a few Public servants, who, within a short time, have been convicted of various crimes owing to this cause.”

The -list read —by Air Poynton, comprised postal officials, telegraphists, policemen, telegraph linesmen, clerks, etc. He continued: “Public, servants are above the average physically, mentally, and otherwise. When this moral plague makes such ravages amongst them, we can realise its havoc in the community. “The Probation Officer hesitates to recommend probation in this case, because some of our Judges refuse it when the case is one of stealing from employers. There is sound reason for this. A man who steals from an employer or a friend who trusts him is more culpable morally and socially than one who steals from a stranger. Probation is being abused. It is being so earnestly and lavishly bestowed that crimes are being committed on the certainty of getting probation. It is, however, a noble reform, and at present it is doing an immense amount of good. It is to he desired that their Honours will agree on some rule as to certain offences and the Lower Court, would gladly follow them. At present each Judge and each Magistrate is a law unto himself. Ido not think the accused is really a criminal. He has fallen through betting, not through being by nature a thief.” The accused was admitted to probation for three years, ordered to make restitution of the amounts stolen within a year, and ordered to abstain from betting of any sort during the whole term of bis probation.