A PROBATION OFFICER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 3

A PROBATION OFFICER

SHEILA MACDONALD'S CHOICE OF WORK VOLUNTARY SERVICE BEGUN W»OM OVA OWH CQBBK3PONDENT.) LONDON, February 9. A new career, that of police court probation officer, has been chosen by Miss Sheila Mac Donald. youngest daughter of the late Mr Ramsay MacDonald. She was with her father on a voyage to South America when he died at sea. Miss Mac Donald. who has taken up voluntary probation work as a preliminary to her new,career, has for some years been interested in social conditions. In 1935 she visited Hamburg'to study institutions and prisons, and just before that she made an eightmonths' tour with her brother, Mr Malcolm Mac Donald. in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, jand Canada. The probation service is being extensively developed by a special department of the Home Office, and many new officers are being trained and recruited. Miss Mac Donald will start, after training, at a salary of £220 a year, and will be able to .rijo to £320. , Later she may aspire to the higher post of a principal probation officer, supervising the work of other officers. In this rank women's salaries rise to £4oo;' men's ,to £SOO. The authorities are anxious to attract to the probation service young men and women of the university type who are interested in and have studied social work. Miss Mac Donald has already had considerable experience of voluntary work in social movements. She is studious, well informed and a good ! conversationalist. Probation is to be used more extensively as a method of keeping people out of prison. It is applied to both juvenile and adult offenders. COMING-OF-AGE PARTY To celebrate the coming-of-age of Miss Sheila Kennedy (Fendalton), a i "mystery"-bus ride was held, the destination of guests being the home of Mrs D. Lochhead (Leeston), where they, passed the time pleasantly with horse-riding arid games. In the evening a social was, held, Mr G. Lindley being master of ceremonies. Thoge present .were Mr, and Mrs F. G. Kennedy, Mr and Mrs G. Lindley, Mr and Mrs R. Burns, Mr and Mrs S. Rowberry, Mesdames - Lochhead, Howse, de'la Maie, McKenzie, Misses Sheila, Millie and Freda Kennedy, Valmai "de la Mare, Marion Lindley, Edith Howse. Nell Rogers, Marie Rhind. Grace Campbell, Dorothy Broughton, Messrs A. Lochhead, M. Voice, D. McMillan, M.' McMillan, B. Fright, A. Hawtin, R. Thomas, A. Laing, J. Mallinson, M. Carter, and H. Harrison. . ' ANNIVERSARY SOCIAL The Sydenham branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union celebrated its birthday anniversary at an enjoyable social, to which representatives of other branches of the union had been invited. ;,-'.', 4 The programme included pianoforte solos by Miss Jenner; songs. Mrs Coltart and Miss Doreen Udell; duets, Mesdames Filer and Weatherhead: musical monologues, Mrs Middleton; recitations. Miss Inez Woodcock; accordion solos.-Mr Nay lor. A one-act play was - by Mrs Woodcock and party.-. .■? -.- ■ _ _ A competition was won by Mrs Barrell. ■■ ■-: , -.■■ .- ■ ■ -. ■ When his pet cat—one of lour —died, the Rev. Thomas Rawlins draped it in a white cloth and had it lying in state for three days in his best bedroom. Then he buried it in an elaborate coffin in,-his garden and tended the grave ence a week up to the time of' his own : death in England early this year. Mr Rawlins was formeriv vicar 'of Redmile and of Rainton, "County Durham,. England. The pet cat so greatly mourned was a common tabby which had strayed into his .house. In , his will the clergyman directed that some good and comfortable home should be found for his three remaining pets where they will be kindly treated and have all they j want. He added: "The board of the cats will be the. first charee on my estate and 1 desire my executors to see that they are properly cared for in sickness and' in health."