The Daily Standard. AND Horowhenua Gazette THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1896. YOUNG CRIMINALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXX, Issue 5735, 4 June 1896, Page 2

The Daily Standard. AND Horowhenua Gazette THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1896. YOUNG CRIMINALS.

The present sessions of the Supreme Court are noted for the extraordinary number of young criminals, New Zealand born, who are being convicted of more or less sOrious offences. At Christchurcli. tlie lamentable fact was so conspicuous as to call forth remark from, the presiding Judge, Mr Justice Dennistojt The Vrveiopmeui of the unfoWunate propensity \of Criminal intent is due in a great measure to the invasion of New Zealand some yearsagoby the Australian" spielers," whose nefarious operations kept the police in a constant state of ferment. I These Australian blackguards, mixing with the youth of the colouy, jhad a most injurious effect upon the morals of the young New Zealandeij, who was attracted by the nomadic life and criminally perilous undertakings of the representatives of Australia's scum. Tne result was that within a short time there could be pointed to a batch of Now Zealanders! who preyed upon their fellow-men in the same way and by the same dastardly tricks as practised by the Australians, and to-day the New Zealand born spieler is in as much evidence throughout the colony as his Australian confrere is in that continent. Amongst this class..tWrtesfrfcte-do. honejjt v;OTk has long ago been dispelled by the overweaning propensity to live by malpractices, and much as the police have done by way of deterrent measures, the numbers are increasing year by year. The cheap rates of passcuger fares between New Zealand and Australia had the effect oi: considerably augmenting tho spieling band, and occasionally the brethren here aro incited to more daring criminal acts by visits from the most notorious of tho Australian criminals. The necessity for taking steps to prevent incursions by these criminals from Australia is undoubted, responsible as they are for the demoralisation of many of the New Zealanders who havo come before the Criminal Courts of the Colony. That they are undesirable immigrants all will be agreed, and that legislation for their absolute exclusion from the colony is called for will be accepted as undoubted.