GRIME IN NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2649, 3 November 1909, Page 5

GRIME IN NEW ZEALAND.

COMMISSIONER DINNIE’S REPORT AND OPINIONS.

(Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. In the police report submitted to the House to-dav, referring to the considerable increase in the number of bur via rv and theft cases, Commissioner Dinnie attributes the fact, in a degree, to the licensing of bookmakers and the indiscriminate granting of betting licenses by racing authorities, which has induced a number of' Australian undesirables to become bookmakers, who, with their followers, when not engaged in bookmaking, resort to crime. Mr. Dinnie also says: “Juvenile offenders are, I regret to say, responsible tor many of these offences.” . Tlie report shows a small decrease m the number of arrests or summonses resulting from all offences, lhe increase in serious crimes reported is sen down at 759 for the year. Charges of drunkenness numbered 10,343, as against 10,203 in the previous year. Wellington comes easily first, being some 600 ahead of Auckland. There was an increase oi 24 cases or sly-vrog selling, and on this subject the Commissioner of Police remarks:— “The difficulty experienced m former years in securing evidence in sly-grog cases still obtains, and it is only byliaving recourse to methods which are repugnant alike to the public and. the police and to those who assist the latter, that the necessary evidence, to warrant prosecutions can be obtained. On the whole sly-grog selling) is kept well in check, and if more severe penalties were inflicted better results would ensue.” Fines imposed' tor sly-grog selling amounted to £1749, and the costs of prosecution to £921. On tlie subject of gaming offences, the report says: “There were 213 prosecutions, resulting in 184 convictions, during the year under the gaming laws, against 193 prosecutions and 14~ convictions in 1907. The provision of the Gaming Act as regards betting houses, street betting, restrictions m betting telegrams, betting advertisements and the use of the totalisator are eminently satisfactory, but, having regard to the licensing of bookmakers and the indiscriminate action of racing authorities in issuing betting licenses to all applicants in a position to pay the necessary fee, irrespective altogether of their character or fitness to hold a license, the result has been quite contrary to that interided. Bookmakers and their followers have seriously increased, the majority of them being totally unfit, both pecuniarily and otherwise, to hold licenses. If bookmakers are to be licensed to bet at race meetings (a provision which from a long and varied experience of racing I could not support) the law should provide that none but those holding a certificate of fitness from a Magistrate (on the report of the police) or Ltie chief of police, of the district concerned, should be licensed, nor should anyone be permitted to act as a bookmaker at any race meeting whatsoever unless he had such certificate.” Speaking of offensive publications, Mr Dinnie says: “For some years past there has been a noticeable development in' a section of the press . of atypo of immoral literature which. is totally unfit for publication, arid which is a disgrace to the public press of the Dominion. It consists principally of extracts specially selected from police, Supreme, and Divorce Court proceed ings, dealing with divorce and sexual offences, which are commented on with no regard to social consequences. Drastic legislation seems necessary in order to suppress all such corrupt journalism. At tlio same time care must be exercised to prevent interference with the liberty of the press.”