BORSTAL FOR BURGLARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1018, 8 July 1930, Page 1

BORSTAL FOR BURGLARS

YOUTHS SENTENCED FOR SUBURBAN CRIMES

PROTECTING THE PUBLIC

“It seems to me to be impracticable to grant probation, as the public interest requires that some form of punishment must be inflicted.” declared Mr. Justice Smith, in the Supreme Court this morning, in sentencing Colin William Glass and Roland Leslie Rush to three years' detention in the Borstal Institution, and one year’s detention for reformative purposes respectively. The terms were imposed for a series of five suburban burglaries recently committed by the youths, who are aged 17 and 19 respectively. The pair was before the court yesterday, when counsel made a strong plea for their admission to probation, one argument advanced being that a Church of England clergyman was prepared to take the boys in hand. In passing sentence this morning, his Honour stated he had obtained a report from the Probation Officer, and had farther considered their cases, but he had come to the conclusion that the nature of their offences governed the position. Dealing with Glass, his Honour said it appeared he required a period of discipline and would, therefore, be detained in the Borstal Institute for three years. Rush, who was the elder, had a better record, said the judge, but on the other hand he had engaged in a series of serious crimes. His Honour held the view that Rush was more likely to make good with a shorter term, and he therefore sentenced him to one year’s detention for reformative purposes, with the recommendation that the sentence should be served in the Borstal. “At the conclusion of your sentences I trust that those nor.- interested in you will still be interested, and that you will yet make good.” added his Honour.