BOYS WHO 00 WRONG

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1924, Page 4

BOYS WHO 00 WRONG

MAKING GOOD CITIZENS. THE BORSTAL SYSTEM. GOOD RESULTS OBTAINED. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. When the Bill which proposes to extend the Borstal system in New Zealand was before the Legislative Council to-day, the Hon. W. H. Triggs give an interesting account of a visit he and others paid to the Borstal Institute at Invercargill. He said they found the boys working hard on reclamation work, and there was no sign of pampering. There was a good farm, which the inmates worked, and in the workshops they were taught useful trades. They made brick blocks and effected additions to the buildings. To a very large extent it was a farm and an industrial colony, and to some degree it was self-supporting. In the evening lessons were given by one of the teachers in Inveroargill. One or two pupils were taking up French, and one, who looked forward to visiting South America, was learning SpanishThe boys gave a first-rate gymnastic display, and later gave a band performance. Still further, there was a debate on the subject (chosen by one of the boys), “Are moving pictures injurious to the rising generation?” He thought the system a great improvement on what had obtained previously. Every encouragement was given the boys to go forward, and the system had been justified by results. Of 1092 youths who had passed through the institution, only 63, or 5.77 per cent., had been reconvicted. He hoped it was Intended to establish a similar institution for girls. Sir Francis Bell: Hear. hear.

Mr. Triggs said he had seen the girls’ institution at Caversham, which was conducted as well as was possible under the circumstances, but the place was not suitable.