INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 13

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS

ithe governments new policy. Following- on a review of the Industrial School system in the dominion, tho tion Department lias arranged to place out a considerable number of inmates in probation on the boarding system. A proportion of such inmates will bo distributed in country districts, while others will bo installed in situations. In order that adequate supervision may bo exercised over the additional number of inmates so dealt with, tho Government has decided to appoint threo visiting and probationary officers to bo stationed at Wellington, Christchureli, and Dunedin respectively to supervise the conduct of children placed out from industrial institutions. The Government also proposes to adopt _ the system of probation that has been in voguo in Auckland for the past threo years—a system which has for its main principle tho granting of power to probationary officers to inquire into the home circumstances and antecedents of ohildren coming before stipendiary magistrates charged with juvenile offences. _ The work to be executed by the appointed offiocrs in each ccntre is closely associated with those duties which are, and have been so excellently performed by the Rov. E. A. Axelsen in Dunedin for years past. Under the new sohome the officer for Otago and Sonthland is Mr E. A. Sureties, late _of Wellington, whose headquarters will be in Dunedin. Mr Sureties will assume his duties in about 10 days' time. In order that the new policy might, be placed on a proper footing as regards Otago and Southland _Mr J. Beok, officer in charge of the Special Schools branch of the Education Department, is in Dunedin making necessary arrangements. It is believed that tho main object .of the Government in adopting the new policy ■was inspired by the fact that the industrial schools of the dominion are heavily overtaxed. Tho idea _is based on the principle that "prevention is better than cure," and working on these lines it is anticipated that not only will the congestion in tho schools be relieved, but the admissions to industrial institutions will bo reduced to a minimum. It is_ understood that in the near future tho Minister will lay before Parliament ooncrcto proposals which will be tantamount t-o a new departure from the present policy of reformativo treatment as regards delinquent children.