Urbanization and Patterns of Juvenile Delinquency in New South Wales

A comparison of urban and rural patterns of juvenile delinquency in N.S.W. showed that, among boys, there were more charges of breaking entering and stealing, assault, robbery, and truancy in the metropolitan area, and more charges of stealing, receiving, malicious damage, offences against good order, and ‘complaints’ (C.W. Act) in country areas. More boys aged 15 to 17 were charged in the metropolitan area and more aged 12 to 14 in country areas. Similar urban-rural differences were found among girls; however, except for truancy and being uncontrollable, they were not significant. Additionally, in rural areas 12-year-old girls were charged more often with criminal offences and selected ‘complaints’.     

Urban Dispersal in Australia

In a recent issue of the Journal, Professor R. E. Lonsdale argued that the relatively successful American experience of decentralization suggests serious difficulties in attempting a comparable programme in Australia. His comparisons, while illuminating many of the problems which must be faced by a realistic regional development policy, are unduly pessimistic in their assessment of the Australian situation. The barriers to urban dispersal in Australia lie less in economic and social conditions than in political attitudes and governmental structures.     

Evidence concerning the relationship between health and retirement

: Survey data concerning the incidence of serious illness before and after retirement are analysed in two ways, (i) by comparison of groups of retired men with groups of men in the last ten years of their working lives; (ii) by examining and comparing the trends over time before and after retirement. Whereas the first method would lead to a conclusion that there is no difference between retired and working men, the second method shows a distinct drop in the incidence of serious illness in the two years following retirement and a slower rate of increase thereafter. It is concluded that retirement is associated with a substantial lowering in the incidence of serious illness.