Minister’s Statement On Borstals

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31967, 19 April 1969, Page 44

Minister’s Statement On Borstals

(New Zealand Press .Association) WELLINGTON. April 18. The term “Borstal” had become misleading, and perhaps the time had come to do away with the term altogether, said the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) this evening.

In a statement answering a recent criticism of Borstal institutions, the Minister said that what should really be a matter for comment was not

the failure rate but that—in! spite of difficulties—there had been some measure of success. As a result of alternatives to Borstal training introduced in recent years, the composition of Borstal populations had changed radically. “With few exceptions, we are left with a hard core of offenders who have failed to respond to other forms of treatment. For most of them, their criminal pattern of behaviour has its roots deep in childhood. “In such cases, the main hope is the development of maturity with the passing of time. Thus, Borstal can often be little more than the provision of a period of restraint at a crucial stage of a youth’s life,” Mr Hanan said.

| The significance of the sen- ■ tence to Borstal training was . different today from the original . idea which many i people still retained. I “It has become misleading. i; Perhaps the time has now arrived to do away with the term altogether,” Mr Hanan I said.