The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WELLINGTON, OCTOBER 18, 1919. JUVENILE MISDOINGS.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 292, 19 October 1919, Page 9

The White Ribbon. For God and Home and Humanity. WELLINGTON, OCTOBER 18, 1919. JUVENILE MISDOINGS.

The cases of the five lads who appeared before the Court at Hawcra la**t month contains much to make thoughtful people serious. These *ad>, whose a Res ranged from 14 to »h, had between 2 5 and 30 char Res of theft entered against them. They all pleaded Ruiltv to the theft of a Quantity of electrical appliances, money, and a couple of revolvers and ammunition. They were the sons of respectable parents, and the ring leader wa** Riven a Rood character by

his mother, who had no suspicion that anything was wrong. Two reasons were given: (1) Bad literature. Ihe police gave evidence that most of the money stolen had been expended in Ihe purchase of questionable litcra Hire. (2) Cndesirable pictures. For. both of these causes the Government is to blame. The sale of fx>ok> glorifying the robber and the bushranger should l>c absolutely prohibited to youths under 21. We have a Censor of Picture Films, but unless a thing is absolutely “the limit” in indecency it is never cut out. The Government or the Municipality should run picture palaces where the programmes are suited to young |H*ople. 1 here is many a mother who would welcome wholesome pictures for the children, and would never allow them to go to any other if the best were procurable. Pictures may be of great educational value, and others may amuse without injuring, and Government should see that these are provided. At present our picture films, with their glorification uf robbery under arms, and vice of many kinds, are manufacturing criminals. The Magistrate said that something should be done to prevent the showing of amateur cracksmen and “stingaree” class of pictures, which had a bad effect upon juveniles I hr Magistrate also wisely remarked that a parent should be more than a father to his Imys. He should make chums of them, take part in their hobbies, and in every direction take a real interest in their lives. I his would be of mutual benefit. It would keep the father youthful it) his interests, and it would help the boy and In* of benefit if his father was his chum, instead of a boy who .night lead him astray. Wo can't afford to have our children turned into criminals to fill the pockets of picture palace proprietors. Our children are our best asset.