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Crime in New Zealand
By The Hon. Sir Robert Stout, C. J.
Extract from "The Colonist",
1st Dec, 1914.
Crime in New Zealand.
A Gradual Decrease.
Remarks by the Chief Justice.
In his address to the Grand Jury at the Supreme Court yesterday His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) gave an interesting review of the crime statistics of New Zealand. His remarks were as follows:—
I am glad that I am again able to congratulate your district on the absence of serious crime, and on the few cases of crime in your midst. When I met you in March. I pointed out that crime in New Zealand was gradually decreasing relatively to our population, which is increasing, and that there was especially no increase in juvenile crime. I am able to say that the remarks that I made in March can be repeated. I mention the matter again because I find that some of our citizens keep on repeating that crime is increasing amongst us. It is a pity that they do not take the trouble to read the official papers that contain the statistics of our criminals. Crime fluctuates from year to year, but if we take a series of years, and examine the figures, we will find good ground for congratulation on the decrease of crime.
| 1881 | 13.77 |
| 1886 | 10.60 |
| 1891 | 8.42 |
| 1896 | 7.70 |
| 1901 | 9.05 |
| 1906 | 9.80 |
| 1911 | 8.51 |
| 1912 | 8.22 |
| 1913 | 8.47 |
We also find in this report the figures referring to serious crime. The Inspector of Prisons' report says:—
"The decrease in the number of serious crimes as evidenced by the length of the sentences imposed, which was remarked upon in last year's report, still continues." He gives the following figures amongst others:—
| 1906 | 1152 |
| 1907 | 1129 |
| 1908 | 1085 |
| 1909 | 1152 |
| 1910 | 895 |
| 1911 | 783 |
| 1912 | 652 |
| 1913 | 711 |
| 1906 | 12.67 |
| 1913 | 6.55 |
| 1911 | 3116 |
| 1912 | 3313 |
| 1913 | 3555 |
| 1911 | 30.38 |
| 1912 | 31.49 |
| 1913 | 32.77 |
| 1909 | 3169 |
| 1910 | 3242 |
| 1911 | 2877 |
| 1912 | 3023 |
| 1913 | 3229 |
| 1909 | 32.50 |
| 1913 | 30.20 |
In juvenile crime, taking all prisoners sent to gaol whether more than once in the year or not, under twenty years of age, there has been a decrease during the last year. In 1912, the number of males was 124, in 1913 109. In 1912 the number of females was 5, and in 1913 10. If the rate per 10,000 were taken the fall would seem to be greater than the numbers quoted show.
"The criminal statistics (Appendix A) deal with all offences reported to the police during the year ended December 31st last, and show an aggregate decrease of 566 on the figures of 1912. The proportion of offences to the population was 2.21 per cent., against 2.35 the previous year."
Of serious crimes reported the number of cases was in 1912, 617; in 1913, 614. There is this note in the report: "During the last ten years the number of serious crimes as above described"—that is, arson, assault and robbery, burglary, breaking into shops, dwellings, etc., forgery and uttering, murder, murder attempted, rape, receiving stolen property shooting with intent—"has varied from 520 tO 759, the present total, 614, being slightly below the average."
If, however the average per ten thousand of the population were taken the decrease would not be so slight. The average given was on the assumption that the population had not increased. There was during the last year, unfortunately increase in indecent and sexual offences, mainly in indecent assaults, where the increase was 36.
I have referred you to three official reports. If they carefully considered you will see that whatever else is happening in New Zealand, crime is take much comfort, for if there is no regard for human life, and no regard for the rights of others, and no regard for human liberty, in any nation that nation is on the down grade.