Burnham reformatory helped deter juvenile crime

Press, 8 January 1983, Page 13

Burnham reformatory helped deter juvenile crime

The causes of the rise of juvenile crime in Canterbury in the late 1860 s, which led to the institution of reformatory schools, show a remarkable resemblance to the roots of a similar problem in the early 1980 s — “the want of supervision and neglected education.” MARGARET CULLEN, of the Canterbury Museum, looks back to the early days.

Dealing with juvenile offenders against the law has always posed a problem for the justice authorities. There is always the danger that, if dealt with too harshly, they will become embittered at an early age and later attempts at reform will be unsuccessful, yet some disciplinary measures must be enforced. The Canterbury Provincial Government was' faced with this dilemma as early as JJB69 when C. C. Bowen, the Resident Magistrate in Christchurch, wrote to the Provincial Secretary: “A distinct criminal class is growing up in this town among the children under the age of 15 years, owing chiefly to the want of supervision and neglected education.” He went on to say that the courts were reluctant to send them to jail lest they be further corrupted by associating with hardened

criminals. The children were well aware of the unwillingness of the courts to sentence them to terms of imprisonment and this encouraged them to risk lesser punishment.

It soon became apparent that some means of dealing with young offenders was needed and the idea of establishing an industrial school or reformatory was put forward. supported by the judiciary and the Charitable Aid administrator.

At that time, destitute children whose parents were

in prison or had abandoned them to roam the streets became the responsibility of the Provincial Government and were either placed in the Orphanage at Lyttelton or in private foster care. In 1871 there were 52 such children and of these, it was estimated that 40 were old enough to attend a reformatory. The Government decided that it would be cheaper to keep these children in such an institution rather than continue to pay the cost of private care. In 1871. a reserve was

made for a reformatory on the southern railway line some distance from Christchurch. It was felt that being some distance from town would be an advantage because it would enable outdoor exercise and teaching to be carried out more easily.

By the end of 1873. buildings. outbuildings and fences around the 20-acre property had been completed, at a cost of C 1704. These included masters' quarters, a dining room, a schoolroom and a workroom for the girls as well as a dairy. Six acres

were planted in vegetables: it was envisaged that the school would be largely selfsupporting. Accommodation was available for up to 36 children of both sexes aged from 8 to 13 years. Robert Colee and his wife. Elizabeth, were appointed master and matron. They had had some experience in an industrial school in Dunedin before coming to Canterbury. Colee was responsible for laying out the grounds and planting trees. Although he was at Burnham for only six years before his death in 'lB7B, he was very popular with the children under his charge and succeeded in gaining their trust and affection.

' Colee's report of 1874 gives some idea of the daily activities carried out at the reformatory. When the school was first opened in February of

that year there were only seven' inmates — four boys and three girls: "The children are taught in school in the morning and are engaged during the afternoon. The boys are employed principally at the garden and the girls have to keep the place clean, wash their own and the boys' clothes and keep them in repair. This they do cheerfully and well and bid fair to become, in time, thorough good servants. "The conduct of the children is good and one lad who was formerly a pest to the town of Christchurch has so much improved in his behaviour as to warrant my placing him in a situation with a respectable farmer near the school."

The children were aged from 12 years upwards and their offences included larceny. living with bad characters, obtaining money by false pretences and unman-

ageable behaviour. Coiee advocated that the boys be taught a trade which would enable them to produce a respectable living for themselves when thrown upon their own resources. Religious services were held regularly on Sundays and a Sun-, dav school.

the control of the reformatory was transferred to the Education Department in 1880 when it became more commonly known as the Burnham' Industrial School. The’ school was finally closed in June, 1918, when the Defence Department took over the buildings as a training centre for the South Island and it is now known as Burnham Camp. There is no doubt that the foresight of the Provincial Government in establishing an Industrial School in Canterbury did much to deter the growth of juvenile crime in this province.