BOYS TO BE THRASHED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 609, 11 March 1929, Page 16

BOYS TO BE THRASHED

“SOMETHING TO REMEMBER”

BIRCHING FOR JOY-RIDER

Press Association GISBORNE, Saturday. j "What about 20 strokes of the birch? See they are heavy ones. Make him touch his toes. I want to give him something that will leave a mark that he will remember a long time.” In the Children’s Court this morning, j Mr. E. C. Levvey, fcs.M., reemommended i this punishment when a boy, aged 15 years, came before him for joy-riding in motor-cars.. The vboy had admitted four charges of that nature. According to the police the lad took girls and other boys for joy-rides. He had been before the magistrate in 1927 for breaking and entering and theft. The boy’s father consented to the punishment. The lad was then ordered 20 strokes of the birch at the discretion of the senior sergeant. The magistrate said that if that did no good he would send the boy to a Borstal institute.

Two brothers, aged 14 and 10 years respectively, admitted ransacking a private residence.

Counsel for the boys suggested that they should receive a sound thrashing at the hands of a police officer.

On the lad’s father giving his consent the case was adjourned by the magistrate for six months. The magistrate said the police need not be so severe on the younger boy, who was commended by the police for his truthfulness, and'was the tool of his brother.