A Spate of Vandalism

Forum And Aginum

The past month has seen the ugly question of vandalism raised on frequent occasions as responsible and community-minded citizens debate the possible motives and lack of intelligence which must lie behind the recent spate of senseless destruction of things of beauty in our city.

The Police department has pointed out the difficulties it faces in making convictions, for nothing short of being caught red-handed or an accurate witness can assure this. It is probably just this which encourages its continuation.

The community may be able to assist the authorities by reporting any actions of this nature which they happen to be unwitting witnesses of.

As for the vandals themselves, one has difficulty in imagining the mentality and complete lack of responsibility which allows them to commit such senseless and destructive acts. One does not, however, have much difficulty in imagining the reaction of the public if and when they are apprehended. Open statements of "birching, public humiliation, and social outcasts" leave little doubt of "John Citizen's" opinion.

Among the growing list of recent victims is the "vandals paradise", the Kaiti Hill lookout rockery, created with no small effort by the combined Young Farmers' and Country Girls' Clubs of the district. Here, plants were ripped out and broken in an obvious spree of unchecked destruction. One organisation which sprang into protest was Gisborne Jaycee, which has offered a $20 reward (in addition to the City Council's standing reward) for information leading to the apprehension of the culprits. Jaycee president Maurie Bramwell is pictured above examining the damage.

Another victim was John Monk (left), managing director of Monk Bros Ltd, who, in an endeavour to beautify his large workshops in Stanley Road, designed and built in his spare time a fountain illuminated at night by coloured lights. One morning there were no more lights.

City Council reserves superintendent Tom Watson, who with his willing band has done much in recent months to beautify the city with shrubs and trees, is another long-suffering victim.

The War Memorial Hall, scene of much of the city's weekend and cultural entertainment, has had to replace the cistern, pipes, and sprinklers of the gents' toilets after they were ripped from their fittings.

Lastly, our own little garden plots in front of our premises once proudly contained a pair of shrubs....now there are two battered stalks.