VICTORIAN LARRIKINS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2409, 6 December 1880, Page 4

VICTORIAN LARRIKINS.

The case of the Collingwoodlarrikins who so savagely assaulted a police cons* table, was referred to in the Victorian Legislature on the 24th ult., when Mr Service asked the Chief Secretary if the Government would consider the propriety of proposing some more stringent measures than at present existed for suppressing such outrages,and suggested the introduction of the lash. Mr Berry replied warmly*, and coincided with the remarks of his interrogator as to the feelings which were experienced by every right-minded citizen with respect to the attack, but he urged that until the magistrates were compelled in some manner to administer the law as it was it would be useless to enact any additional legislation. If he were assured of the support of the House he would not hesitate to summarily dismiss any magistrate who failed to perform the duty required of him by* society in the adrainistration of its laws. The remark was loudly cheered from both sides of the House. Sir John O'Shanassy expressed the opinion that it would be useless to adopt any repressive measures against the youth of the colony, who were yearly becoming more criminal, as was shown by the statistics, until the cause of the depravity, which he insinuated to be the present Education Act, was altered. Mr Francis protested against such an assertion, and submitted that the education had no right to be saddled with responsibilities which clearly did not belong to it. The discussion did not last long, but there was an unmistakeable feeling expressed that the time had arrived for the adoption of rigorous measures for the suppression of the ruffianly tendencies which have of late been exhibited.