"RE-CREATION"

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 9

"RE-CREATION"

a. BORSTAL MILESTONE BOYS BLESS THE SUMMER CAMP SOME VERY-HUMAN LETTERS The Borstal Summer Camp aims to be recreation in both senses of that potent word. In a physical way,, he who recreates also. re-cre-ates. But "the Borstal innovation has a deeper, moral meaning.' Last Christmas-Now Tear 'week forty boys of the Invercargill Borstal Institution took part in a Borstal Summer Camp-^tho first "on your honour" BorBtal camp ever held in New Zealand, and probably the first South of the Line. Located at .Otatara, about eight miles from Invercargill, the camp proved a model of happiness, good-feeling, and unguarded orderliness. The boys were selected from among their Borstal fellows for 'the extended trust shown- to them in camp produced the right response; and it is felt that ;the Borstal Summer Camp is something of a milestone in Borstal progress in Jhis country. The boys realised that they "were pioheers, in that: :bn their behaviour depended the permanence (or otherwise) of such an experiment as an open-air camp under, practically unguarded conditions. There were only four officers in camp, and no night guard was set, but not one in, the forty did anything to endanger the privilege, or to deter the authorities from making it an, annual fixture that will be enjoyed by the Borstal boys of the future as by those who qualified for it in 1926-27. Besides doing tho work of the camp, tho boys played games, held athletic sports, swam, saw a regatta," trapped rabbits, and lid many, other things that come within the range'of a happy and healthy open-air life. "I WAS TRUSTED." In order to- gain further■ information »—additional to that published in Southprn papers—about the first Borstal Summer Camp, \ a '.'Post" reporter "called on the Controller-General of Prisons, Mr. B. L. Dallard, who incidentally remarked ' that ev-ry one of the forty boys had written to'him a personal note of thanks for the now opportunity represented by the initiation'of the camp. Questioned further about these letters, Mr. Dallard was persuaded to convey the content 1? -'of some of them—without, of course, revealing the identity of the writers. ,

"It's our future actions that count— not our words now," observes one keen young self-analyst; '. 'let the future show proof of my thanks—no matter ■where I am or what my work is I'll never do time again. That's a promise, and I'mjiot in the habit ' break-, ing a projiise either." He explains in this note to the Controller-General that this is his second; time in the* Borstal, and ho favourably compares Borstal conditions ,of,. to-day with those prevailing "when T first came heie'in 1920." His first Borstal term concluded at jnidwinter, and he left the institution "about sick of solid work and feeling in need of a holiday. The result was that I took a long time hunting work when work was really scarce, and so got a poor start—and then only by keeping quiet about being here. Naturally, when it came out, I wasn't ■trusted so much, and I soon turned it in. It wasn't long then'before- I was 'in' again. . l - :", ° "I came flown ,he'rp' again,; prepared for a similar dose of ■ treatment, and. instead I was'soon given a^ trusted job | and was set' to work at my own game, i I was sent over a' mile away from the nearest officer, and within a few chains < of a main road, and trusted to go square. No one ever came near me to see if I was behaving. The result is ' I can honestly say that I played fair ' and did my best. The engine is in far I better condition, now. than when I took it over, and nobody but myself touched it at any time. I was thus being trusted and working at my trade at the same time. A WORD TOR. ROTARY. "Then inside - conditions were rapidly improving, food was really firstclass, and we had heaps of concerts, , ;thanks largely to Mr. Pollock—and i don't forget that bit. He really does do the 'dickens' of a lot of worrying for our benefit. I'm saying only what I think because you're the only one to see this. Then, again, the 'Eotary Club' chaps come in here and '.-out us as if we were equals and offer to help where they can^ and) by Jove, that kind of puts a bit of kick-into a chap's self-respect, and that's some good. Now I'm packed off down here for a holiday," camping under ideal conditions, with some good sports in charge, and only trust and decency .holding us all here, and one of the results is that every chap here (all the letters are written from the camp) is swearing to do his best in future-to repay thoso responsible. . . . I've come to realise, and have been telling them, too, that these places, and changes of treatment, are judged not only;' by our behaviour while here and in the institute, but also—and perhaps more sr- -by our ' behaviour when released, again. .*. "I don't know whore I'll be going, or what I'll be doing after release, but you can bet your pants on it.that I'll be doing two things—working among machinery of some sort, and going square for keeps. ... I suppose we'll never meet; but, believe mo, I'm Some grateful for your 'permitting -this' Holiday and thus leaving me fresh and fit to leave this institute;."

The t writers Vof ".these."grateful- lettersto the Co'ntroiler-General represent all kinds of epi&tolai'y^styles! The'abovequoted letter expounds the subjective^ Here is; a sample of "the objective: "The camp, which consists.of nine bellshaped tents and a much larger" tent for dining purposes, is situated about nine miles south of Invercafgill. The camping site is. a;well-choseri;:(me; being surrounded.by fine ; trees,.and'.'the:river tunning close-by.';';; v? '.'*■ I catf honestly; Bay I thoroughly enjoyed myself.*/-" ARTIST'S MEMENTO. ' A memento of the camp, a study in iSark green pine trees, light green f rass, and white canvas, hangs . now on the ■wall of the Controller-General's room. It is by a Borstal boy artist, who thus attains the goal of haying been 'hung.' A moralist^writes; "I feel sure that campssucfi as;'tliese;,re-ere;ate^a man;, we are truste^as.nb.bthe.r inmates'in this' institution)' "aid it.gives our officers faith in us knd us;faith in crarsglves." Here- is,;ane':who remembers -the Act-ing-Superintendent and his ■staff: "" Wehave much to-thaiik'Mr. Pollock, and his officers for-^theway in .which, they' arrange thingsf or pur benefit, the -spifif; of goodwill towards us, andthe interest shown in ; us and,all we do. '.. i: As to

the future 1 :of these camps, if this one „ is setting™ ;a precedent; well, there is; no need to wprry.' The camp in all ways is a:. huge success.." . .. ; ' . . Another grateful one: "When ho (Mr. Pollock) .was appointed to his position one of. the first things he done was to come along and have.-.-tea with us in the class-room, with the same fare for himself as was on our plates; ever since he- has! been doing little things thaFerideaFhim to us." A /comprehensive sentence: "1 "think that, in making'thik camp' possible, you have gone a long stretch of the road in ■>. selpmg to remould our moral manhood,

because, while in this camp a lot of trust has been placed in us, and you know the old.saying ' Give 'a dog a good name and ho will fry arid live xip to ' it.' " A BOXING EPIC. 1 One of tho boys writes that the athletic sports meeting was held "with good humour"—which is not found at all sports meetings. Another gives some idea of the sort of humour that was needed: "We held a boxing contest. In my first fight I cleaned up my mate. Two or .three others had a round or two after us. As soon as my second ! fight came on I knew I'd get a licking.' I wasn't far wrong either. I received a i black eye and a few smacks on tho libs. ' On Christmas Day we had an oxcellcnt 1 dinner. We had everything a man ever wished for. J>

"I will try to play the game when I get out," tersely writes one of the forty. All 'express the wish that the camp will becomo a regular institution. In a general letter of reply to the boys, the" Controller-General of; Prisons reciprocates good wishes, and writes: "The excellent manner in which you all acquitted yourselves fully justified tho experiment of holding a camp, and there is satisfaction in knowing that, through this, not only did you have an enjoy able time yourself, but also'you have 'scarfed the trail' for those who follow you, for you have shown that' Borstal fellows can rise to tho occasion and play tho game. .From the letters it is evident that you wore all fully sensed of this responsibility, it being the first camp of its kind in the Dominion, and you doubtless wished it to be a great success. I may.say that all through life wo are encompassed about with a grave responsibility, man to man, and it is the desire of the Administration that each of you fellows should become imbued with a deep-rooted desire to play the game not only in tho institution but when you take your places again- in society. I was glad to read 'that everything had been arranged in such an enjoyable manner, and I would state that the best way in which you can show your appreciation is by cooperating to your utmost with Mr. Pollock and his officers in their efforts to help you at tho institution." THE PERSONAL FACTOR. In a letter to an Invercargill resident, who assisted to make the camp a success, the Controller-General r«marks: "Without in any.way wishing to disparage the past good work of the institution, there has been a tendency to cling to the old penal methods in which the staffs have graduated. The underlying idea of a Borstal institution is Corrective rather than punitive. It is in effect a kind of moral hospital /or the intelligent treatment of crime in the incipient stages, and involves a ■carefully -arranged programme of work, education, and recreation, such .i-s wiJl equip each inmate to be a useful unit of society on release, and at tho same time instil in each a sense of duty and responsibility as a law-abiding citizen In a socialising work of this nature, the personal influence is of paramount importance, and in this respect Mr Pollock appears to have struck the right note. lie realises that the system rests primarily on a form of kindly discipline and a gradual development of self-re-spect and -honour by tho wise, counsel, ™°™! Precept,' and example 'of the