THE HELPING HAND

Evening Star, Issue 20118, 7 March 1929, Page 17

THE HELPING HAND

PROBATIONERS AND OTHERS VOLUNTARY COMMITTEES 1 GOOD WORK (.Spzcul *o thz ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, March 6. _ The system of collecting restitution from probationers from the courts in instalments has encouraged thrift in many cases. A total of £37,261 has been collected in restitution payments in the last eight years. The extension of probation to 8,287 persons during that period in lien of committal to a penal institution has saved the community over £500,000. This statement was made to a ‘ Sun ’ reporter by Mr G. M- Silver, relieving probation officer in Christchurch, who spoke on the lines of an address given to the Christchurch Rotary Club yesterday. Mr Silver is field organiser of the probation scheme in Wellington. He said that twentytwo voluntary committees had been esatblishcd in tho dominion, and an aggregate of 140 citizens (representative of ail denominations) were giving zealous service in the aftercare of probationers. The success of the system depended on the calibre of tho voluntary workers and the attitude of the employers toward those to whom the benefits of probation had been extended.'

“ One of the most pleasing experiences in the organising of this movement,” said Mr Silver, “ lias been the co-operation of the magistrates, who. without exception, have undertaken the chairmanship of the various committees, and are assisting their probation officers to make probation _ a constructive agent in the reformation of offenders. The whole-hearted response of the 140 voluntary probation committeemen throughout the dominion and the assistance so readily given by the religious and social organisations have considerably lightened the heavy responsibility involved in launching the movement. _ The difficulty of re-establishing the discharged prisoner can only be appreciated by those who are voluntarily making such _ heroic efforts to secure an opportunity for these men to live as they should. Nothing is more discouraging to the ex-prisoner than the experience of tramping the city day after day in search of employment, of having his hopes raised by a promise of consideration, and of meeting fina l disappointment when the prospective employer discovers that ho has served a term of imprisonment. The best probation officer, with the united efforts of his voluntary probation committee, cannot re-establish these men without the co-operation of those who can give employment. Fortunately, as the work of the committees is becoming better known and more fully appreciated, those who can give employment are co-operating in the movement. The satisfaction that comes from being instrumental in giving a man this chance and assisting him to re-estab-lish himself as _ a. decent citizen, coupled with ultimate successful accomplishment, is an experience that can be recommended to all employers. Discussing the question of the man who has left the Borstal Institute, Mr Silver remarked: “It has been well said that no one knew whether he is reformed, for no lad can call himself a swimmer until his feet are off the ground. The leap from control to liberty would overbalance him were it not for tho oversight and encouragement continued after lie has left the institution. It is in this oversight that there is an opportunity for community service—the extension of tho helping band to keep the chin held up until the swimmer has learned that he can float, and need not flounder, thus helping to complete the difficult work of reconstruction so courageously attempted by the officers of our Borstal Institution, which can bo of little avail unless the helping hand is extended to the inmates after thenrelease.”