WERAROA FARM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1939, Page 10

WERAROA FARM

A NEW CHARACTER. MINISTER’S INDICATION. (By Telegraph—Siiocial to Standard.) WELLINGTON, July ‘2B. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Eraser) discussed the affairs oi the AVeraroa Training lhirm in answer to questions from Mr L. G. Lowry and Mr \V. J, Broadfoot to day. He stated that the problems of boys absconding from AVeraroa is not a new one, Indeed, the position is much better now than in tne past. For the eleven years 1925 to 1935, with an average of 86 boys in residence, there were on the average 50 abscondings a year, the actual number in 1932 being 119. In the first half of this year 23 abscondings involving 15 individuals occurred. “The problem of delinquent children is difficult,” added Mr Fraser, ‘‘as they are generally unfortunate rather than incorrigible, but institutional control is one method unfortunately necessary, though in modified improved form.

“It is intended to transform the training farm into a school providing a wide range of cultural, technical, and occupational training. including agriculture for the hoys. The present buildings, which have been obsolete for years, are quite unsuitable, even for their present function and far less for the new purpose indicated. “Accordingly, new buildings have been planned. These, together with tlie reorganisation of the staff, now proceeding, should enable the whole character of the institution to be chansred in conformity with enlightened practice. “In the men.ntimo every possible step is !>eing taken to prevent absconding by hoys from AVeraroa and subsequent damage to the property of the people of the district, which too frequently has followed those abscondings in the past.” The Minister has undertaken to confer with the member for Otaki and representative citizens of the Levin district, before tenders are called _ lor the proposed new buildings at AA eraroa.