VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume 246, Issue 246, 16 October 1926, Page 18

VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

GOOD BOYS AND BAD BOYS. THE THREE ESSENTIALS. CARE, CONTROL AND GUIDANCE. That there is often but little difference between the good boy and the bad •boy was stressed by several speakers yesterday at Mount Albert, when the new Probation Home was officially opened by the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., who stated

that he had been asked to represent the Welfare Department as magistrate in charge of the juvenile court, said that the Minister of Education held the most important portfolio, as on the work of his Department depended the future Erosperity and happiness of New Zeamd. In connection with the new home it was not proposed to keep boys there lor any length of time, as the Department now dealt with those who came into its hands in a different way. Young people were not criminals. It was generally a case of high spirits misdirected, *nd what was needed was care and control, and a place where there would tie guidance. The work would be largely preventive. In some cases boys were Committed to a homo of the kind because there was no other place for them; ethers because their environment was not what it should be. The work that the Department was carrying on was very important to the community, and le "felt that not even the Government recognised how important the Work was. The new home would accommodate 28 hoys, who would be in charge of two women. Auckland was the largest city —he would not say the naughtiest—and the departmental work was carried out hy two probation officers. Now th" the industrial schools had been closed it meant a saving of thousands a year. He was inclined to think that the worv of the Department was just a little alien to ordinary education, and that it would be better were it controlled by a department of its own. Responsibility of Parents. The Hon. Mr. Wright said that there was a limit in regard to the finances of New Zealand, and while one admired the •work of the welfare workers, yet parents had a responsibility, and should not leave everything to the Government. The latter was prepared to do everything possible within reason, but it was difficult to say how far they could go in any one direction. It was fitting that the home should be established in Auckland, as the juvenile probationary system was introduced in this city about 14 years ago by Mr. Justice Frazer, who was then on the magisterial bench. For the system to be an assured success it was necessary to have a home. Formerly the probation officer provided temporary shelter for cases of observation, and if the scheme were to be of permanent good something more ambitious was necessary. The new home would be very comfortable, and it was the first of its kind in New Zealand. The period of detention would not be lengthy—just long enough to determine the type that a boy belonged to. Under the old law a child was a law-breaker; there was but little difference twen an adult and a child. But the Child Welfare Act had now completely revolutionised the idea. It was recognised that children were assets to the State, and if they were improved they would be greater asßets, There Were many citizens who were supporting the child welfare movement, and splendid assistance had been given by the trustees of the Costley Training Institute. Praise For New Scheme. The Hon. George Fowlds said that he had been in the closest touch with the operations of the Child Welfare move- j ment. It was now recognised that the difference between the good boy and the bad boy was very small indeed. The ! experience had been that it was better to I have boys placed in homes rather than crowd them into an institution. The Costley Trust, of which he was chairman for 25 years, had run a home for boys at Richmond Road, but it was a heartbreaking business, and not satisfactory to the trustees. When the speaker was Minister of Education it was decided to close the institution and sell it and wait until they could ascertain a better way of spending the money. The result was that they were now assisting in the way that the Minister had indicated, and last year every penny was expended. Under the new scheme a child would have a very much better chance than in days gone by. Messrs. L. E. Rhodes (Mayor of Mount Albert), Mr. F. N. Bartram, MJ\, and Mr. W. J. Holdsworth (director of the Big Brother movement of the V.M.C.A.) also addressed the gathering, after which the Minister declared the building open. Afternoon tea was handed round, and an opportunity was given to inspect the home.