THE LAW COURTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1915, Page 2

THE LAW COURTS.

MASTERTON'S IMPROVING RECORD, By Telegraph.—Preag Aasociatira. Maßterton, Yesterday. The Supreme Court opened to-day before Sir Robert Stout. There was only one criminal caße, alleged breaking and entering. Sir Robert Stout, in bis address to the jury, said: "I heartily congratulate you on the diminution of crime, especially in Masterton. In 1908 you resolved to make an experiment by the abolition of the open saloon. In 1008 the number of offences of all kinds reported was 512, while in 1914 the num. ber had fallen to 161. In the case of convictions the same result is shown. There were in 1908 461 summary convictions, that is, convictions for petty offences or breaches of the law and bylaws; in 1914 there were only 90. A pleasing feature of the figures is that while in 1908 20 women were convicted, 10 of the convictions buing for drunkenness, in 1914 only four were convicted, and of these only one was for drunkenness. The figures are similar in the case of serious offences. In 1008 40 persons were sent to the Supreme Court for trial and 25 were convicted; in 1914 there were only 11 ( eight of these being convicted. So far as convictions for drunkenness are concerned, the decrease is marked. In 1908 the convictions for drunkenness were 302; in 1915 they were 40, I also find that there are fewer civil cases in the Magistrate's Court and debts are more easily collected."

COUNTY CLERK ARRESTED. Levin, Yesterday. H. E. Lodge, late clerk to the Horowhenua County Council, was arrested at Rangiotu training camp on Saturday, charged with intent to defraud bv omitting to enter particulars of this "receipt of £3-2 ISs 2d, He was brought to Levin and remanded to appear before Mr. 1 ovnter, S.M., on Thursday, September 23. Bail 'wa3 allowed in his own recognisance for £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. Five other charges are pending.