The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, JULY 22, 1889. JUVENILE CRIME.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3262, 22 July 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, JULY 22, 1889. JUVENILE CRIME.

It lias latterly been the fashion for Justices of the Peace in oar largo towns to nieet in conclave with a view to concerted action for the prevention and cure of crime. The Wellington J'.P.a lmve just taken their turn at investigating this particular social problem, and have arrived at certain conclusions Which will require legislative assistance in order to take effect. They believe tljat industrial schools should be of two classes, one for criminal children and the other for neglected children, and that increased powers should be given to the police for dealing with lads who congregate about the streets after dark. They recommend the (satablishment of special disciplinary courts for youthful criminals, iu which the bircli should bD the leading punishment. These courts, too, in their opinion, should have power to fine parenta who do not look after their offspring. It is extremely probable that the Legislature •yvill not attach any very great importance to the recommendations of the Wellington Justices, In the first place they themselves admit that the percentage of crimo to population in the city is norn#!; and that there is no alarming

increase oi juvepue immorality winch calls for special- intervention. Of course if it were possible to decrease the'ordinary percentage of crime in Wellington it is very desirable to do so, As far as public order and decency are concerned, the powers of the police and the prdjpy B.M, court ought to suffice. Wo do not gather from the published proceedings of the lalo meeting that the police hold that they are not iurnislied with adequate powers for keeping in order the small boys of Wellington. It is

of jjoursp very gratifying to find Justices of % Pjeace taking a special interest in suppressing juyejiilp crime and meeting together in council, but ( they seem to have been over hasty in coming to conclusions. Possibly in j), few hours some zealous magistrate has problems which a generation of legislators Jiag Med to work out. Thejustices hive done iooii).u,ch in too short a time anil for this reason 1 ijjeir recommendations will carry but little wejgfyt. Still they have brought the condition of juyejiie offenders prominently before , the public, and we trust the .outcome will V a further investigation, which wiii distingush practical from theoretical remedial measures.