BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 152, 28 June 1924, Page 7

BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT

JUVENILE DEPRAVITY. A VALUABLE SAFEGUARD. CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. A conference of "Big Brother?"' from . the V.M.C.A. and Koinan Catholic Big , Brother movement took place at the V.M.C.A. last evening. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. C. J. Tunks, president of the V.MX.A.. the Rev. Dr. I Buxton acted a≤ chairman, between 40 . j and ~>o Big Brothers attending. The I conference was tilso attended by the i Rev. Father Hradley. Mr. C. S. Falconer, chairman of the V.M.C.A. Big Brother executive, the juvenile probation officer. Mr. J. S. Cupit, and Mr. R. M. IBrasted. general secretary V.M.C.A. j The chairman in his opening remarks I spoke of the splendid work being done by the Big Brothers, and heartily eonJ gratulated them upon thfir efforts on I behalf of the little brothers. He was I pleased to see so many present and 1 hoped that much good would result from ! the discussions. A letter was read ! from Mr. .liistice Stringer expressing j regret at not being able to be present, but j commending the work of the Big Brothers. ! The Key. Father Bradley outlined the 'activities of the Catholic Big Brothers, and told what was being done for some of the difiicult cases in hand. Last year over ()00 calls had been made by the Catholic Big Brothers. He thanked the V.M.C.A. for initiating the movement, and for the help received from the association and from Mr. .F. S. Cupit, in inaugurating the Catholic Big Brother movement. He emphasised the growth of petty thieving among juveniles, and laid i the fault in most instances at the door iof the home. ! Mr. K. M. Brasted, general secretary. ■V.M.C.A.. gave an outline of the work accomplished by the Y.M.I. A. Big Brothers. In two and a-half years 92 boys had been dealt with, and 71 young men had served as Big Brothers. A study of the cases dealt with, pointed to lack ;of home control in 90 per cent of the leases. He suggested that the BigBrothers should seek to become scientific in their work by making a careful study of each book. By the keeping of I unified records, the work in the future i should be more preventive than curative. and a careful study of the cases would probably enable the causes to be dealt I with. j i Mr. J. S. Cupit took the opportunity of thanking the Big Brothers in the name of the department, for the great assistance : rendered. He outlined the policy of the ' ' department toward the movement, and ' the probation system in general, and ! explained why the Big Brother movement was , started. He told of the difficulty he had in interviewing all these jlwjs each week—sometimes he would ' have to interview 110 boys in a single day. Now he did not have to' interview any regularly as was done by ! the Big Brothers. Mr. Cupit emphati- . willy stated that the success of the system lies in being able to give individual attention to eaeli particular case. I ■ consequently the aid being given by the Big Brothers was most effective. Twelve Big Brothers, six from ihe V.M.C.A. movement and six from the Catholic movement, gave intensely interesting papers on "Phases of" tlib Little Brother Problem."' Such ques|tiuiis as. "How best to secure the interest of the parent." "How to get the hoy to open a savings bank account," "How to occupy the boy's spare time." j"\Vhet should be tlie limit of the probation period,' , "How to link the boy with the Church," and '•.-•.lOuld we ever pv" up a case as lost'/" were dealt with in a very fine manner, and the dis-(•■■s-iiiMs winch followed were particu- ■ larly keen and showed the alertness of the Big Brothers to the tasks in hand. I At the conclusion Mr. ('. S. Falconer spoke of the growth of the Big Brother idea. He was glad to report that the I movement had been sueeesfully launched 'in Dunediii. Wellington and Wanganui, and that the Christchurch centre was I now discussing ways and means and I would liegin shortly. I The conference passed resolutions, "That tins conference recommends that in dealing with juveniles there should be no fixed period of probation, but that the matter be left in the hands of the probation officer and his assistants to enable them to meet each case and also I that two years should be the maximum jof any probation period."' J "That a message 1-e sent from this first conference of Big brothers congratulating the other centres u]>on the successful inauguration of the movp,ment in their midst ;in<l offering thorn any assistance they may ho desirous of obtainiiift." I "That a join; committee of two Hi: 'Brothers front each division be set up . to go into the matter of iinilied record* land- to report the results to the respee- , ! tive organisations."