DELINQUENT YOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 641, 18 April 1929, Page 7

DELINQUENT YOUTH

VALUE OF THE BORSTAL INSTITUTION AUSTRALIAN’S IMPRESSIONS (Special to THE SUXJ r INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. •As the youthful offenders are not r«allj' criminals in the true sense of lhe word, as indicated by the high percentage of successes from the treatment, it is questionable whether association with prison work is desirable,” >aid the Hon. I>. 11. Drummond, Minister of Education in New South Wales, nho P aid a visit to llie Borstal Institution. Mr. Drummond was most tavourably «—tressed with all he saw at the institution. He said that in New South Wales there were no such institutions to deal with youths over IS years of age. He was satisfied that the Invercargill institution was serving a very valuable purpose, and was being developed on sound lines. •The small percentage of failures, namely 8 per cent.,” he said, “strengthens the opinion that it will be difficult to find a more effective way of dealing with delinquent youth. Whether this work should be carried on, as it is in New South Wales to some extent, as in extension of the child welfare work, or whether it should be under prison control, is a matter that can only be determined by experience. -While in Invercargill I observed with the greatest pleasure that the system had been adopted of permitting inmates to take part in outside sports and competitions and I should like to congratulate ITotarians on the splendid work they are doing in visiting | The institute and giving lectures, as I feel that this work must be very valnable in the restoration of the selfrespect of inmates. The co-operation of the Y.M/C.A. is also notable. -The principal contrast which strikes one in visiting Invercargill is the gaollike nature of the principal buildings »s compared with the almost complete freedom observed on the farm, which is in proximity to the town. The fact that the boys on the farm are quite amenable to control without the aid of high walls and doors raises in one’s mind the question whether these rather terrifying structures are really necessary adjuncts to the successful maintenance of the system.”