Changed Attitude To Borstal Trainee

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 10

Changed Attitude To Borstal Trainee

('New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. Reform was needed in the mind and attitude of the general public toward the borstal trainee, especially when he was paroled, said the Rev. Manu Bennett, associate chaplain at Waikeria Borstal.

“The old ‘gaol-bird’ conntation still lingers, and immediately the trainee is released he faces a battle of survival in open society. “Often it is hard to get a job—or lodgings—but more difficult still is the problem of being accepted. “Sometimes a boy becomes settled, reasonably well, but he is always suspect, and the least trouble brings down official attention, which immediately exposes his whole past to his employer, his landlady and his new group.” Mr Bennett was speaking to the annual meeting of the Maori section of the National Council of Churches in Auckland.

“Too frequently this means loss of job, loss of accommo- ] dation and rejection,” Mr

Bennett said, “so the rebel is reborn” to follow his former pattern, and so back to gaol. “It is a sad commentary” in view of the very large numbers of Maoris in the prisons that so few Maoris were on voluntary organisations such as the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society. “There are two main spheres where help from the community is essential, employment and accommodation,” he said.