GRATIFYING RESULTS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1934, Page 7

GRATIFYING RESULTS

DOMINION PROBATION SYSTEM. REDEMPTIVE INFLUENCES. The results of last year’s operations of the Offenders Probation Act are set out in the report of the chief probation officer, Mr. B. L. Dallard, tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. He said the total number of cases dealt with during 1933 was 2201, which was 11 less than the number for the previous year. The number of fresh admissions to probation was 767, or 134 less than for 1932. This reduction did not indicate that probation Had found less favour with the courts as a means of dealing with offenders, but was due to the general diminution in the volume of crime. The decline in commitments to prison had been proportionately greater than the. falling-off in admissions to probation. Of the total number of persons on probation, 174, or approximately 8 per cent, only, failed to conform to the requirements of their probationary licenses. This was exceedingly gratifying considering present-day conditions, which no doubt intensified difficulties, particularly with respect to those cases where restoration was required to be made. Probation officers had indicated that in many cases this had involved a definite self-denial. The making of restitution in such circumstances was undoubtedly an indication of the redemptive influences that were brought to bear under probationary supervision. The total amount paid by probationers during the year was £2375, representing £403 for costs of prosecution and £1972 restitution to victims. The Wellington district probation officer, Mr. T. P. Mills, reported that cases dealt with in his district numbered 236, and the total costs of prose-* cution and restitution moneys collected was £314 Ils Id. “Only a few probationers were unemployed at the close of the year,” said Mr. Mills. “Outside those who were fortunate enough to obtain award wages, many have been absorbed in relief work in town and at camps. Some have sought work such as scrubcutting and are making fair wages, but" the fact cannot be disguised that there is much hardship at the present time. However, a large proportion are making earnest efforts to overcome their weaknesses, which is borne out by the fact that barely 4 per cent, of the year’s probationers were brought before the court for subsequent offences. “Some difficulty has been experienced in the collection of costs and restitution moneys. Self-denial is often evident in the efforts of the probationers in this respect, and credit is due to those men who will minimise their ‘smokes’ in their endeavour to meet the financial obligations endorsed on their lenses.”