INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS AND REFORMATORIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4897, 24 June 1887, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS AND REFORMATORIES.

AN ENGLISH STATESMAN'S OPINION.

Wellington, to-day. A leading English statesman and a member of Mr Gladstone's Ministry (Lord Aberdeen) who has visit id New Zealand, writing to Sir G. Grey, speaks in commendatory terms of the Industrial School and Reformatory system, especially the plan of boarding out pursued in some of the colonies. He also says he is much impressed with free education after visiting the schools and making enquiries into the system.

The following is an extract from the letter : — " I have had a good look into the Induetrial and other State Schools, al«o the reformatory system. I cannot compare the system out there with that at Home, as I am not sufficiently conversant with the latter, but the system pursued here seems undoubtedly good. A short detention in the Reformatory and Industrial Schools being the two most important points with juvenile offenders, it is this individual influence that can be brought to bear on them that is productive of good. If you have a mass of children herded together in large numbers, it strikes me that not only is the object of reform defeated, but that we are doing our best to breed up a race of criminals. I have also gone through the whole of th« boarding out system, and it undoubtedly works extremely well. Whether it could be made to work in England ia a matter for careful consideration. The super* vision by ladies is the most necessary thing to ensure that there is no illtreatment from overworking. I think the women here perform their voluntary philanthropic duties better than they d.o afc Home. The desire is no doubt aa great among a few at Home, but the difference between the classes ia not go widely marked in the colonies as at Home, which makes the work easier and less distasteful. lam very much impressed with free education. I don't know whether free education meets with your approval or not, but I am very much pleased with ife after going through a school in each colony, and making various enquiries.