JUVENILE CRIME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3673, 2 August 1927, Page 2

JUVENILE CRIME.

A VERY BAD CASE. CAMPAIGN OF INCENDIARISM. Auckland', Yesterday. “This is the worst case of juvenile crime I have had to deal with,” said Mr Justice Herdman this morning' in committing for Borstal treatment three boys who set tire to the Normal School in the heart of the city. It was difficult to assess the appropriate punishment, as for weeks the boys had been engaged in a campaign of plundering and incendiarism, the damage done during their short crime career running into £3,000 to £4,000. One lire was started by them at Rutland St., another at some Salvation Army property, still other's at Avondale, Lorne' St., Newmarket, and at some City Council property. In addition to arson there were charges of breaking and entering and theft against three of the accused. Two boys over fifteen named Burgess and Williams, were sent to the Borstal Institute for not less than two years. The third boy, who was not eligible for the Borstal, being just under fifteen, was ordered to be detained apart from the other prisoners, the Judge making a request to the Minister of Justice to exercise his powers to send the boy for similar treatment. The Judge added that the Child Welfare Act was difficult to interpret. He understood that it was at present under repair, and hoped that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court would) not be curtailed, as there were cases such as this over which the veil of secrecy should not be drawn.