THE BOY PROBLEM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 9, 11 July 1910, Page 3

THE BOY PROBLEM.

ITS ATTEMPTED SOLUTION. WOEK IN WELLINGTON.

Is the "penny dreadful" the sole cause of the moral downfall of its boyish readers? The president of the Wellington Boys' Institute (Mr. G. A. Troupe) docs not think so. In course 'of conversation with 'a Post reporter, he said : "The home, not the penny dreadful, is what often sends a boy wrong." Now, the president of the institute has worked for many years among boys, nnd he has tackled some fairly unpromising material in his time. "My experience has undoubtedly gone to show," he added that most of the boys that get into trouble owe it moro to their environment and companionship than to anything else. Given tho means of placing the Doys in good surroundings, and you will reduce crime amongst them Liy one-half. When you save the boy you save the man — which he scon becomes, of course. Evil companionship is a fruitful cause of boys going wrong." At tho Boys' Institute, he said, there were some 300 members 1 , and there were about 100 of them in the institute every night. There were ever so many qualifying to pass the fifth and sixth standards, having not gone'beyond the fourth when they left school to go to work. This led to the president being asked what he thought of the prospects of the tradeless boys — the boy who was a "nothing." UNSKILLED LABOUR GRADUATES. "I'm afraid," ho said, "thaf. 50 per cent, of our boys are graduating as unskilled workers for want of opportunity to learn trades. They go out to work as ! early as they can. .Sometimes, because it is necessary for them to loso no titna in contributing towards their own ke«p, and sometimes — and often, too — because they arc headstrong and cannot see that high wages at first for unskilled work, such as that of messengers or of similar occupation, do not necessarily mean that they will increase proportionats to the boys' advancing years. Lack of parental control is, too. ofle-n responsible for wrong-headed boys taking up occupations which aro attractive to them by reason of the high wages, but which land them, in the shallows." INFLUENCES FOR GOOD. To counteract vicious environment, and also to brighten the lives of good boys whose surroundings, if not vicious, ar© dull, sordid, and uninteresting, the institute has its library, games, educational classes, gymnasium, football, and cricket clubs, Scout patrol, and its wnart cadet company. Boys are warmly welcomed, and they pay no subscription for thes© advantages. They have but few restraints, while the very best of influences nm brought to bear upon them — and with most encouraging results, as therecords show. j "The gifts of £500 in cash and of i property in Tasman-street will be good news to many boys, who come in from the country to Wellington to learn trades," *aid thft presidt-nt, "and especially to boys who have lost their parents. At the present time, and for years to come, on account of their small earnings, these boys often have to live in very undesirable surroundings, and aTe exposed to great temptations. There art> »iao v niimWt of working lads whoso homes are sometimes considered by magistrates as unlit for their proper upbringing. Thcso also may find a home at the new institute. Special provision is to be made for destitute boys and those out of work and unable, for the time being, to pay lor their board and lodging. Part of the ground can be used as a kitchen garden, and so supply both occupation for such boys and vegetables for Ih© house. A workshop wUI also be put up in which small useful articles will be made. Boys out of work will thus be found something to do." A boarding or residential side of the work for boys earning not niorra than 18s a week was one of the conditions of the anonymous donation of the money and property already referred to : and the beginning of the building within twelve months from date was a second condition. RAISING THE MONEY. When the president was asked if it was intended to adopt a great campaign on the American plan to raise the money required, he repli 3 d : "We shall certainly have to make an effort to get tho money required; but the old English metheds ar© good enough for us. Personally, I think it a mistak© to adopt in a British community any other method of raising money than those especially suited to our circumstances. We shall go about the work quietly but earnestly. 1 shall be very disappointed if we do not accomplish what we wish befor© Christmas. The Wellington public has always responded when it knows that money is wanted for the cause of th© working boy."