Problem Of Juvenile Delinquency

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15059, 20 August 1949, Page 4

Problem Of Juvenile Delinquency

Young- Peoples' Leisure Time Activitiy British Government's Plan The growing problem of juvenile delinquency had prompted the British Government's national groups of vcung pconle in leisure time activity, said the Rev. W. P. Temnle, when addressing members of ihe Women's Social Progress Movement in Wellington recently. The two age groups 14 to 16 and 1G to 18 wore those concerned in the plan, which aimed to provide pastimes to interest youth, while also benefiting the community. It was during these ages that many young people, when free from work or school, were onlv too likely to drift into crime, said Mr Temnle. In the early days of the war it had been found that as few as 30 per rent, of young people had any interest in youth organisations. To extend the Government's plan, youth councils had been set up throughout Britain. Mr Temple was a member of the Glasgow Youth Council. r>nd it was of the scheme in Scotland he spoke mainly, in Scotland local education piithcrities under the Scottish Education Department set up youth councils in practically every centre, in country districts ps well as in cities, he said. On these councils were representatives of all existing voluntary youth work organisations, with representatives from welfare societies and educational bodies. The councils soon saw the magnitude of their task. Substantial financial help was given bv the Government, which naturally demanded a minimum standard of performance—the had to cover activities for physical, mental, and moral training. The main difficulty, however, was 'not in drawing up programmes or finding instructors, but in interesting the majority of young people who needed this training but who kept away from the clubs. "The youth councils are frying to foster a feeling of personal responsibility towards the community in all young people," said Mr Temple.