YOUTHFUL DELINQUENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17886, 5 December 1929, Page 7

YOUTHFUL DELINQUENTS.

BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT. 'MU.GH GOOD IN NEW! ZEALAND. Ocmimanting on the problem of child delinquents, Mrs €. A. Fraer, suggested .the formation of an "AfteiN Carc Society" on the lines of the Big Brother and Big Sister Movements which exist In the United States of American and -Canada, says the Christchurch Sun. Although there is no Big Sister Movement at present in Now Zealand there has been for the past eight years a Big Brother Movement in Now Zealand. The good work it is doing was explained to a Sun reporter by Mr E. J. MoEJdawney, general secretary to the Y.MtfC-A. Tho movement la run by the Y.M.OA.

Mr MoEldo-wney said that tho..movement was started In Auokland eight years ago and at present there were about 350 boys under it. Its activities were commented on in every annual report of the Education - Department and it was agreed that the movement was of great value to the department in the after care of boys. Mrs Fraer also said that members of the movement should attend the Children's Court. AooordJng to Mr MdEldownoy this Is done and many youthful delinquents had been taken under the wing of the Big Brothers. The aucocss of the movement, said Mr McEldowney, dependod on the typo of Big Brother secured, and in this respect tho movement had been very fortunate. In Auckland th.? Roman Catholic Church conducted a similar movement and each year a combined cpnferenco was held between tho Y.M.C.A. officers and the Roman Catholic Church officers.

A BJg Sister 'Movement had been tried out In several places in New Zealand but had proved a failure. At Wanganui a small committee organised suoh a movement, but it failed because the girls did not show the same frankness as boys, nor had they the same confidence in the Big Sisters. Mr McEldowney quoted several cases In which the movement had been of great value in looking after boys.