HELP TO YOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 72, 25 March 1936, Page 21

HELP TO YOUTH.

PROBATION OFFICERS. SENSATIONAL LITERATURE. INFLUENCE FOR EVIL. The privileged function of the probation officer incorporates tho roles of mother and father and financial, moral and human adviser, but there are some compensations. He probably sees closer to the heart of youth than any other citizen. "Human nature is not so harmful as you might think, not half so bad as long as it is directed, in the cases of youths and young men, into the right channels," said ono probation officer in an interview. "I have only one mind about 'the matter," he replied when asked if sensational literature was being read extensively and whether it had a harmful influence. "A vast amount of such literature is sold. Lads, oven girls, swallow wholesale all kinds of cheap novels, detective stories and trash. Undoubtedly ifc is pernicious stuff. Parents are largely to blame. I really believe it should be enacted that the 'Deadwood Dick' type of book should not bo sold to children under a certain age, or allowed to be read by them. Apart from legislative action, enough is not done in tho homes, nor for that matter in the schools. That is no reflection on the teachers, but rather, on the lack of realities permitted to be. taught in tho schools because of the limits of i syllabus and curriculum."

"Tho problem," he continued, "had not really been handled yet. It needed to be gone into thoroughly. Home influence certainly had a great deal to do with it. Some societies of women and social bodies were often heard to say that delinquents were abnormal and should be treated as such. The most important point of all was that the great majority of boys in trouble were normal, but had little recreation and no occupation. It would surprise the man In the street to see all that the probation officer saw. Good athletes arid players of games, were no trouble at all. TJiey might, and sometimes did, make slips and get into trouble, but usually once only. Few Offend Twice. "We have an extremely high percentage of cases of first offenders who never again cause us any trouble. The percentage is well over 90. It is the minority who offend once and don't learn a lesson. It is they who give us a tough time. "One of the first conditions of probation found necessary to impose is that some youths who have work start banking accounts. lam prepared to say that most of them, if not on probation, would nover have saved anything. After such restraint they frequently have learned to be sensible. Some of the boys have savings bank accounts for as much as £30. It gives them a feeling of independence."

"Another bad thing for youth is the time payment system,' 'the officer continued, "I discourage it. When I have finished with them—and I do not say it boastfully—l have got many boys into decent modes of living. lam satisfied that time payment and wasting of money have very bad effects upon lads who really are quite decent." The officer opened a drawer and displayed two hands filled with savings bank books. 1 here were a score of them. "These belong to youths on probation," he concluded. "These boys have an object in life, but the sad part is that they could have been doim* it Ion" before if they had had the proper influence."