JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

Press, Issue LXVIII, 31 December 1912, Page 10

JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

ft NEW SCHEME WORKING SATISi FAGTORILY. L (from a correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 30. I The new scheme of dealing with juvenile delinquents put forward in tho Budget last session is .already in operation, and is reported to be working satisfactorily. The Minister's idea was, that when a boy was first brought before the Court for delinquency, and the Magistrate was sat-sfied that tho moral influence of parents and homo | was not detrimental, but that the parental control was not strong enough to prevent further trouble, the Magistrate may formally attach the boy to .an industrial school, and arrange with j the Education Department that tho boy shall remain with them, but under the friendly direction of an officer of that Department. If the youth failed to behave satisfactorily, he would then be sent to an industrial school without the need of further Court proceedings. ] Tho Magistrates in Wellington, Christ- ! church, and Duncdin are now working in the direction indicated, making us© of persons who are directly interested in the subject of social reform. In Wellington the Magistrate utilises tho services of Mr J. P. Mills, in charge of the Presbyterian Orphanage. Mr Itule. tho social service agent of the Presbyterian Church is consulted at Christchurch. and at Dunedin Mr Axelson is the agent of tho Department. Till recently no appointment had been made at Auckland, but the Department has now appointed Mr F. S. Shell, formerly Seamen's Missioner at Wellington, to act in that capacity, and he will commence his duties at the beginning of the year.