JUVENILE OFFENDERS (RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT MEETINGS OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1891 Session II, H-04

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Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS (RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT MEETINGS OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.)

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Excellency.

1. AUCKLAND. We, the undersigned Justices of the Peace acting in and for the City of Auckland, desire to draw the attention of the Government to the necessity which we think exists for devising some improved system of dealing with youths and children convicted of offences against the law. The object to be aimed at in such cases is, of course, to suppress the offences without making the offender worse by unduly degrading him, destroying his self-respect, or subjecting him to moral contamination; and in suitable cases to adopt such means as may conduce to his reformation. That these aims have been regarded by the Legislature as the right ones to be pursued is shown by a series of enactments to be found in the clauses of " The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882," relating to the summary trial of indictable offences, in " The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," and " The First Offenders Act, 1886." The last-named Act can hardly be regarded as adapted to the case of children, even in the class of offences contemplated by that Act. This is apparent from the conditions imposed upon first offenders liberated upon probation, which are not appropriate to youths still living under parental control. No doubt the provisions of the Act have been made use of in such cases, but this is to be regarded as a proof of the difficulty which the Bench often feels in dealing with them, and amounts to little more than the old plan of dismissing the offender with a caution. The provisions of the Industrial Schools Act are doubtless calculated to bo of very great use in many cases, but it is obvious that the resort to them must be subject to very considerable restrictions unless the risk is to be incurred of graver evils than the remedy was intended to prevent. Not to mention the great overcrowding of the industrial schools which might easily arise, we have to consider the great danger of too easily relieving parents from the sense of responsibility in regard to their children, which only too much already needs to be reinforced and strengthened instead of weakened. The clauses of the Justices of the Peace Act above referred to provide for the imposition of fines and whipping in some cases instead of imprisonment, and these powers are found very useful in many cases; but they relate only to cases in which the offence is per se matter for indictment, and not to the numerous cases of disorderly and indecent conduct to which a large proportion of boys in a large town are too much addicted. Under the provisions of " The Police Offences Act, 1884," offences against public order are punishable by fine or imprisonment, which means that if a boy's parents decline to pay the fine, as they sometimes do, all the evils of sending a boy to prison must be incurred, or the offence must go unpunished. Moreover, the offence of using indecent language in public places can only be punished by imprisonment without the option of a fine. It is, of course, much easier to show the inadequacy of present methods than to point out what would be adequate ; and in asking the attention of the Government to the subject, we wish to express our sense of the great difficulty of dealing with it, as well as our conviction that no mode whatever of dealing with offences after they have been committed can offer any prospect of a radical cure of the evil of juvenile crime, which must be sought in a more thorough and systematic moral training in the home and in the school. But the methods of dealing with young offenders may, we think, be improved in the direction of securing a larger measure of those objects to which we have already said our aim ought to be directed. Such methods may be considered under two heads : first, the mode of dealing with the young offender himself; second, the mode of bringing home to parents a due feeling of their responsibility for the misconduct of their children. Under the former of these heads, our first recommendation is that the punishment of whipping should be authorised in the class of cases involving outrages upon public order and decency, which have been above mentioned as now punishable, under the Police Offences Act, by fine or imprisonment only. We also suggest that some special mode and place of confinement should be provided for youths under a certain specified age, whereby the danger of contamination from prison associations, and perhaps also the stigma of " having been in gaol," may be avoided. The latter of these objects would be imperfectly attained by the separation of a special portion of prisons for the confinement and seclusion of young offenders ; but, at all events, their separation from the ordinary criminals would be secured by a preadapted machinery, instead of being dependent, as it now is, on special arrangements made by the gaoler in compliance with the expressed wish of the Bench. The alternative to this plan is that special places of confinement for punitive discipline should be pro--I—H. 4.

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vided elsewhere than in prisons. It would perhaps be difficult to make suitable arrangements for this purpose at the police cells, though this might be done when the sentence is only for a day or two; but when the period is longer it may deserve consideration whether suitable provision and machinery might not be instituted in connection with the industrial schools, which would thus have a department for strictly punitive discipline for limited periods as distinguished from the ordinary class of cases in which the inmates are kept until the age of fifteen years. With regard to the possibility of bringing home to parents a stronger sense of their responsibility in this matter, the question is one which requires very careful consideration, but we think something might be done. To impose a direct pecuniary penalty on the parent for an offence committed by his own child would seem, no doubt, a novelty in English law, but at least there would be no injustice in empowering the Bench to order that the parent should pay a certain sum to go towards the cost of maintenance of the young offender, who might be confined for a term under some such system as we have above suggested. Another plan which seems to deserve consideration is the disfranchisement —for whatever term might be deemed just—of parents who are shown by the misconduct of their children to have grossly neglected their parental duties. Whether such disfranchisement of the parent should take place by the judgment of the Court convicting the young offender, or by the act of some other tribunal or authority upon cause shown, or ipso facto upon the happening of certain facts, would be matters for consideration; but there seems to be nothing unsound in the principle that the exercise of the highest function of citizenship should not be permitted to those who habitually ignore its plainest duties. We have been informed that the subject of juvenile crime is attracting the attention of the magistracy in other parts of the colony. We also learn, by communications received from Christchurch, that the institution of sea-going training-ships for boys is likely to be suggested to the Government. Such a suggestion deserves our warmest sympathy and support, as being one of the most useful measures which could be adopted; and we do not doubt that the Government would regard it with equal favour, if not prohibited from entertaining it by imperative considerations of expense. We have the honour to be, J. Giles, E.M., and thirty-five Justices.

2. THAMES. SlK,— The undersigned Justices of the Peace of the Borough and District of Thames have the honour to make the following recommendations upon the subject of dealing with juvenile crime, which are embodied in a short series of resolutions passed by them after giving the question a careful and extended consideration at several meetings held for the purpose : — Resolved, 1. That it is desirable that the offences of male children now dealt with by fine and imprisonment only ought also to be punishable, at the discretion of the Court, by flogging up to the age of eighteen years. That for cases to which the above-named penalties are not suitable or are inadequate institutions might be established in each provincial district, of a self-supporting kind, for the reformatory discipline and instruction of disorderly youths, who should there be taught a knowledge of agriculture and other trades, industrial schools upon their present footing being unsuitable for the object in view. That the same end—viz., reformation and the acquisition of a calling—might be attained on board a training-ship, from which boys might be apprenticed to the Koyal a,nd mercantile marine—a system from which excellent results are said to be obtained where it is in force. 2. That it is certain that in many instances the faults of children are directly traceable to the neglect of their parents. These in such cases ought to be made legally responsible for such neglect by incurring the liability to a fine in all cases of conviction where it is shown that the offence of the child is the result of parental neglect; because it is plain that, as regards many parents, the sense of moral responsibility is not strong enough to induce them to exercise the care necessary to guide and restrain young people, or even to send them to school; accordingly, that in the case of such persons legal ought to take the place of moral liability. 3. That the compulsory clauses of the Education Act should be generally enforced, and, if necessary, that the Act be amended accordingly. In respect of the third resolution Mr. Northcroffc desires his dissent to be recorded, as do also Messrs. Carpenter and Douglas. In addition to the above resolutions, a suggestion has been made for restraining the liberty of the street and the highway to young children after dark. The object is desirable from every point of view, and advantage would doubtless result from achieving it, but we feel unable to make a positive recommendation on the subject, because of the objections which the proposal would probably meet, and the consequent difficulty of carrying it into practice. We have, &c, Jambs Kilgoub, J.P., Chairman. H. C. Lawlob, J.P. Chaeles Haseldbn, J.P. L. J. Bagnall, J.P. H. W. NORTHCROFT, J.P. E. T. Douglas, J.P. Louis Yon Kottee, J.P. Albeet J. Allom, J.P. William Carpenter, J.P. Alexander Aitken, J.P. The Hon. the Minister of Justice, &c. E. F. Tizard, J.P.

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3. WELLINGTON. Report of the Committee of Justices at Wellington. Read at the meeting of Justices held 19th July, 1889. The committee of Justices appointed by you at a general meeting held on the 28th May to inquire into the matter of neglected and criminal children has completed its investigations, and lays the result before you in the form of nine resolutions. The evidence of the official authorities has been taken, and it has been found that there is not more than a pro ratd increase in the amount of juvenile neglect and crime, and that this is liable to fluctuations. It is, however, considered that this rate is altogether too high, and resolutions suggesting proposed amendments in the Police Offences Act and "The Industrial Schools Act, 1882," having for their object the reducing of this rate will be placed before you for consideration. The statistics supplied by the Education Department are exhaustive and complete. Your committee considers that upon the whole the industrial schools are well conducted, but has some alterations to suggest dealing with the classification of the children and the pursuits to which they should be introduced. With regard to classification, it is considered that those children who find their way to industrial schools merely through misfortune should not be confounded or mixed with those who are criminal, therefore distinct establishments are necessary for these two classes. Taking into consideration the generally over-supplied state of labour in the towns and mechanical pursuits, and the large quantity of land in this new country requiring intelligent occupation, your committee feels strongly the desirability of the children now sent to the industrial schools being trained to agricultural and pastoral pursuits, for which purpose it is necessary that farms should be set apart, where this instruction shall be properly organized and conducted. Resolutions passed at the Meeting of the Justices of Wellington held on the 19th July, 1889. 1. That it is desirable to obtain legislation for the purpose of preventing the present habit of great numbers of children under fourteen years of age wandering about and congregating in the streets and waste places in towns after dark. 2. That any child under fourteen years of age apprehended for or charged with any offence punishable on summary conviction shall be brought before a special Court, and not before any ordinary Court of criminal jurisdiction, and shall not be committed to any gaol. 3. That the Court to exercise jurisdiction in these matters shall be called a " Disciplinary Court," and shall consist of a committee of seven Justices, to be annually nominated in a manner to be provided, of whom any two shall form a quorum. 4. That the special Court shall have power to investigate all cases of juvenile offences or neglect, including wilful destruction of property and such cases as are contemplated in Resolution 1, and power to inflict at its discretion birching, not exceeding strokes in any one case, or to commit to an Industrial School. 5. That, where it lias been proved to the satisfaction of the Court that parents have failed to exercise proper control, the parents shall be charged jointly with the children brought before the Court, and if the children are not committed to an Industrial School the parents shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 6. That the committee have reason to believe that the responsibility of parents for the maintenance of children committed to Industrial Schools is not duly enforced, and they recommend that it be made imperative on the committing Magistrate to strictly enforce contribution to maintenance from the parents or guardians. 7. That a distinction be made between children who are criminal and those who have been merely unfortunate or neglected, and that they be separated and confined to distinct establishments. 8. That farms be set apart, one for each class of children, where they be taught agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a distinct view to their becoming useful settlers upon the land upon reaching manhood. 9. That legislation is desirable in the direction of preventing children under ten years of age selling papers after dark about the streets.

4. CHBISTCHUBGH. Sir, — Eesident Magistrate's Office, Kaiapoi, 30th April, 1889. I have the honour to forward for your consideration the attached copy of a report I have drawn up at the request of the Justices attending the Christchurch and other Courts, together with a letter covering certain resolutions passed at a meeting of the Justices in the Leeston and Southbridge districts. The resolutions passed and the report I have now to submit to you have been unanimously agreed to by the Justices, and were adopted after much and careful consideration, with a view of strengthening the hands of the Magistrates in dealing with cases of juvenile offenders. I have delayed forwarding the papers, as I understood meetings for the consideration of like resolutions were likely to be carried in other districts. I have, &c, Caleb Whitefooed, The Hon. the Minister of Justice, Wellington. Eesident Magistrate

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Notes of Proceedings at a Meeting of the Justices of the Peace resident in the Ellesmere District, held in the Courthouse at Southbridge on this 17th day of April, 1889; E. B. Willis, Esq., J;P., in the Chair. The report of the sub-committee of Justices of the Peace, as given at Christchurch on Saturday the 13th. of April current, was adopted, and, in addition, the following resolutions were proposed and carried:— 1. That power be given to Justices to order a certain amount of corporal punishment to be inflicted on juvenile offenders in a certain class of cases— e.g., use of obscene language, larrikinism, and petty larceny. [It has always been the custom of the Bench in this district to give the parent the option of flogging the child in the presence of the police, in lieu of sending the offender to gaol.] 2. That the sexes should be kept separate, and in separate institutions, when sent to reformatories or industrial schools, and such institutions to be at a distance from each other. Bobert B. Willis, J.P., Chairman. William D. Lawrence, J.P. David McMillan, J.P. George Gosset, J.P.

Report adopted at Meeting of Ghristchurch Justices. Sir, — Eesident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, 4th April, 1889. I have the honour to inform you that I have been requested by the Justices sitting in Christchurch and adjacent Courts to bring under your notice the immediate necessity of making some legislative provisions by which power may be placed in Magistrates' hands that would enable them to deal more adequately and effectually with juvenile criminals and deserted and neglected children. You are, as Minister of Justice, fully aware of the existing law with regard to dealing with children who come under either of the above descriptions, and it is therefore not necessary for me to recapitulate the various laws and enactments dealing with the subject; but I may be permitted to refer you to a memorial on the subject (juvenile criminals) recently forwarded to you by the Auckland magistracy, which sets out at length the powers placed in the hands of Justices by the law as it now exists. The objects in approaching you are —firstly, the prevention of juvenile crime by removing children from the control of parents who habitually neglect them, and fail to keep them from bad company and the evil influences such association necessarily entails ; secondly, the amendment of the law so as to throw upon parents the responsibility of exercising proper control over their children, and, failing their doing so, to punish such parental neglect by such means as may be deemed most effectual for the purpose; thirdly, the introduction of regulations under which Magistrates would have the power to apprentice neglected and deserted children for a term of years to farmers or tradespeople ; fourthly, the establishment of a sea-going training-ship, on board of which boys who have not become actual criminals may be placed, with a view to their removal from bad associates, and their being at the same time trained as sailors; fifthly, with regard to females, the raising of the age of consent to at least fourteen years. One great difficulty experienced by all Magistrates lies in the fact that, no matter whether children are neglected, deserted, or criminal, there is no alternative but to send them to the same place of detention or punishment, or to send the criminal juvenile to gaol —in the latter case a proceeding which can scarcely fail to contaminate him and prevent his ever having a chance of earning an honest living; while, on the other hand, it is evidently most objectionable to mix, as at Burnham, unfortunate yet honest and respectable children with those inured to crime. Such a course, I need scarcely point out, cannot but be productive of the most calamitous results. Especially is this the case with female children ; and yet, under existing circumstances, the Bench is almost powerless to prevent such association. While dealing with this part of the subject I am desired to express the opinion —which is fully indorsed by Inspector Pender, one of the most experienced police officers in New Zealand —that the suspension of the provisions of the Contagious Diseases Act, so far as Christchurch is concerned, has had a most disastrous effect, and that the Act, when in force, tended greatly to check juvenile prostitution, which has since, in consequence of the suspension of the Act, alarmingly increased. It would also be desirable that the age of consent in females should be raised at once to, at all events, fourteen years, if not more. The many evils resulting from allowing children to wander uncared-for about large towns could to some extent be avoided if the various School Committees enforced the compulsory clauses of the Education Act strictly; and it would also be desirable that the attendance required under the Act should be much greater than at present. I believe this to be a most important question, and one I am desired to press most strongly upon your attention. In dealing with juvenile offenders brought before the Court for the first time, power should be given the Eesident Magistrate to hear each case privately, to avoid the necessity of bringing young children publicly before a Court full of spectators, and accustoming them to being charged and dealt with as criminals, which cannot (in spite of every precaution on the part of police and Magistrates) but have a demoralising and hardening effect on young persons. This suggestion as to dealing with juvenile offenders and the mode of initiating proceedings against them emanated from Inspector Pender, and I consider it of a very valuable character, and that it should be adopted without delay. The cause of the misconduct on the part of juveniles is in most cases to be found in the utter want of proper parental control, and it therefore seems that the making parents responsible for the behaviour of those they are the proper and natural guardians of is only compelling them to bear their share of a moral and legal responsibility which undoubtedly rests upon them. lam desired-to state that the law in this respect should be so far altered as to enable Magistrates to heavily fine parents who allow their children to drift into crime, and make them also responsible in damages for any acts cemmitted by children they habitually neglect to keep in proper restraint; and in all cases in which children are ordered by the Justices to be sent

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to gaols or reformatories the parents should be made to pay for their maintenance while they are inmates of such establishments. It seems clear that, when the parents have, by their own neglect of their natural responsibilities, brought about the misconduct of their children, they ought also to be made with the children to suffer to some extent the punishment due for the offences committed. It seems very likely that, if proper regulations were made, farmers would be glad to take lads or girls for a term of years; and several farmers have expressed their opinion that a good many children could be properly provided for under some such system. At present a farmer scarcely cares to take a town lad and go through the trouble of instructing him in useful farm-work, only to find that at the end of the term the boy goes away for higher wages to some one else, or the boy's parents remove him for the like purpose. Of all the practical measures which I am desired to bring under your notice there is none deserving of more careful consideration than that of the establishment of a sea-going training-ship ; and it would give the Magistrates here great satisfaction to know that the Government contemplated taking the necessary steps for such a purpose. I believe I am correct in stating that there are already in the records of the proceedings of the House of representatives resolutions to the effect that it is considered desirable that training-ships should be provided for the purpose of juvenile reformatories. The success that has attended the establishment of such ships in England and, I believe, the adjacent colonies has been undoubted. I have, &c, The Hon, the Minister of Justice, Wellington, C. Whitefooed, E.M,

Eepoets upon the Nautical School-ship "Vernon," New South Wales. (Printed in accordance with Resolution of both Houses of Parliament.)

The Superintendent, Nautical School-ship " Vernon," to the Undeb-Sbceetaey of Public Instruction. Sic, — Nautical School-ship " Vernon," Sydney, 18th July, 1888. I have the honour to submit, for the information of the Minister of Public Instruction, my report upon the " Vernon " for the year ended the 30th June, 1888. 2. The work of the institution showed a large increase upon that of any former year since establishment twenty-one years ago. Admissions numbered 204, and discharges 206. The average daily number on board was 218. The total daily average, including apprentices, under my control was 638. 3. Notwithstanding the increase in the numbers, the ship cost £400 less than in the preceding year. The cost per head showed a substantial reduction of £2 7s. 3d. for the boys maintained on board, and a reduction of 12s. 2d. per head on all boys under control. Including all expenditure, the year's cost per head to the State of the whole of the boys under my legal guardianship was £8 13s. lid., which is the lowest rate yet reached. The following table will show the growth, &c, of the establishment :—

4. The health has been excellent. No deaths, and scarcely any sickness, have occurred. Illness has been almost wholly confined to newcomers, who arrived suffering with cutaneous eruptions, neglected sores, and other complaints produced by neglect. This immunity from disease is the more remarkable when the crowded state of the vessel for the greater part of the year is considered. Altogether 404 boys were on board at various times during the year, and the greatest number ever on board at one time was reached on the 11th April last, when 237 boys were on the roll. 5. The demands for apprentices have been more numerous than hitherto, and I have thus been enabled to find room for newcomers by apprenticing boys as they became available for service by conduct and by the twelve months' period of detention. There are still undealt with over two hundred applications, and it is satisfactory to find that out of these a fair proportion come from persons who have already had " Vernon " lads in their service. 6. The conduct of the boys on board has been very good, taking into consideration their antecedents, and the fact that they are only sent here when all other means of controlling them have proved ineffectual. We have now to deal with older lads than was the case ten years ago, when only 18 per cent, of the then limited number^on board were over fourteen years of age. No less than 43 per cent, are now over fourteen, Notwithstanding that this necessitates more

For ear ending 30fch Ji me. .dmissions ... )ischarges ... lost per head— Inmates only All boys under control .verage daily number — On " Vernon " All boys under control 'ercentage to total admissions of boys over fourteen, showing that older lads are now committed than was formerly the case ... 1877. 63 78 1887. 189 192 1888. 204 206 £36 18s. 3d. £13 8s. 6d. £26 13s. 8d. £9 6s. Id. £24 6s. 5d. £8 13s. lid. 99 275 214 638 218 638 18 per cent. 38 per cent. 43 per cent.

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watchfulness than hitherto, the staff of officers remains unaugmented. One case of absconding occurred through a man leaving a boat and its crew, of which he was in charge, alongside a wharf in Sydney, when one of the boys, a half-witted youth, nearly eighteen, compelled his fellows to make off with the boat. The lads, with one exception, were recaptured, and stated that they really had no reason to abscond. Three have since left the ship as apprentices, and are all doing very well. 7. Probably in part from the extreme rarity of desertions from the " Vernon," the absconding caused a considerable amount of comment, and the occasion was seized by some persons to make statements gravely reflecting upon the system of training. So far as the desertion was concerned, no excuse can be offered for the official in charge of the boat, who was dismissed. I might, however, point out that abscondings are always likely to occur unless the boys are absolutely prisoners. It is better to run this risk than to make the place a gaol. 8. The assertions mads generally as to the effect on the after-lives of boys undergoing the " Vernon" system seemed to me to require attention, and the Comptroller-General of Prisons was therefore invited to cause a report to be furnished showing the number of persons in gaol on the 30th June last who had at any time been " Vernon " boys since the establishment of the institution; and also the number of ex-" Vernon" boys who had been sentenced for any offence during the twelve months ended on the date before named. At the same time the Inspector-General of Police was asked to cause every apprentice from the ship to be visited, and to report upon the boys' conduct. It was considered that these inquiries, made by impartial officers not connected in any way with the vessel, would afford the most conclusive proofs of the merits or demerits of the system. 9. The " Vernon " has been established twenty-one years. During that time 2,040 boys have been sent on board, of which number 210 remain. Eighteen hundred and thirty have consequently passed through the ship since establishment, and this number should be borne in mind when considering the figures adduced by the Comptroller-General, who reports that twenty-one prisoners were in the various gaols on the 30th June last who had been " Vernon " boys, and that twentyeight (three unknown to me, of whom I cannot find any proof beyond their own statement that they were here) ex-" Vernon " boys had been sentenced during the year ended the 30th June last. The following shows the percentages : — Total number of boys leaving the ship since May, 1867 ... 1,830 Ex-" Vernon" boys in gaol on the 30th June last ... 21 = 1 per cent. Ex-" Vernon " boys sentenced during the twelve months which ended the 30th June last ... ... 28 = J's „ Number of male prisoners in the various gaols (see last Prisons Eeport) ... ... ... ... 2,054 Percentage " Vernon" boys ... ... ... 1-1 In 1887 over 13,000 persons were committed to gaol. 10. The Inspector-General has furnished me with a detailed report upon the character of every apprentice now at service. Some of these lads have been nearly six years away from the ship. The results are — Total number of apprentices at service ... ... 420 Favourably reported upon ... ... ... 392 = 93 per cent. Absconded, and unfavourably reported upon ... ... 28=7 „ 11. The foregoing numbers include, amongst the twenty-one in gaol on the 30th June, eleven who were not here under my superintendence. They further include eight who did not undergo the full training of the ship, but who were discharged to their friends. Amongst the twenty-eight convicted during the twelve months are included eight who were discharged; thirteen were not here during my superintendence. 12. Amongst the tables appended will be found a statement showing the educational attainments of the boys. Only twenty-six of those admitted, or 12 per cent., were found to be able to read and write well. Mr. District-Inspector McCredie, upon the occasion of his last inspection, reported as follows : —" Discipline : The pupils are regular in their attendance of about three hours daily ; they are clean and tidy, and quiet and steady. The government is firm and effective. The order is good and the general discipline is effective. Instruction : The classification is suitable ; the instruction is almost confined to reading, writing, dictation, and arithmetic. It is regulated by a time-table and by fairly suitable programmes, and the teaching is industrious, but owing to the short time the majority of the boys are on the ship the proficiency is not high." 13. Considerable reduction has taken place in the cost per head. The average daily number under control was 638, and the cost per head £8 13s. lid. per annum. This low rate is principally due to the apprenticing-out of boys, when it has been considered safe to do so, after they have been twelve months on board, for the balance remaining of the period for which they are sent to the vessel. This system greatly relieves the State of expense, and is extremely beneficial to the boys, who acquire a good knowledge of practical farming, a taste for country life, and who find themselves at the age of eighteen in the possession of accumulated wages ranging as high as £54, and in a position to gain their own livelihood. During the year 120 boys were apprenticed to earn in money £3,988, which will be given to them at the expiration of their term of service. Including board, lodging, clothing, and all other necessaries, worth, say, Bs. weekly, the total earnings of these 120 will amount to £13,108, while the saving to the State by their rescue from evil is incalculable. 14. Eeligious instruction has been conducted by the Eev. A. Turnbull (C. of E.), the Eev. P. Callaghan (E.G.), Mrs. Ford (C. of E.), and the Sisters of St. Joseph. The greatest benefit has resulted from the kind and benevolent exertions of these ladies and gentlemen, who are deserving of

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every praise for their zealous and valuable services. On Sundays the boys landed and marched to their respective churches. 15. The ship has been largely visited during the year by young men formerly apprentices from the vessel. They all seemed respectable, respectful in their manner, and occupying fair positions. Eight hundred and twenty letters were received by me from former inmates of the ship. Every Wednesday a selection from these is read to the inmates who attend the library on that evening, and I anticipate good results from this practice. 16. The officers remain as at last report, and no changes have taken place. They continue to perform their duties in a cheerful and intelligent manner. A few changes have taken place amongst the lower officials. 17. The usual tables are appended. I have, &c, Predk. W. Neitenstein, Commander and Superintendent.

Summaby. A.— Work in connection with the "Vemon" for the Year ended 30th June, 1888. Total admissions ... ... ... ... 204 Total discharges ... ... ... ... 206 Average daily number on board under control ... ... 218 Average daily number of apprentices under control ... 420 Total average daily number under control ... ... 638 Cost yearly for average number on board ... ... £24 6s. sd. Cost yearly for all under control ... ... ... £8 13s. lid. Percentage of those known to be doing well of boys under control who have left during last six years... ... 93 per cent. Highest rate per week of wages to be earned by apprentices 10s. Lowest rate „ „ „ 6d. Wages and value of board, clothing, lodging, medical attendance, to be earned by boys now serving apprenticeship £45,878 Number of visits made to ship by young men now out of apprenticeship and quite free from control, some having been upwards of ten years away ... ... 194 Deaths on board during year ... ... ... None. School per diem of boys on board, each boy ... ... 3 hours. Value of industrial labour performed on board (no deduction made for this in estimating cost) ... ... £2,100 Average age of boys apprenticed ... ... ... 14-4 Average stay on board of those leaving the ship ... Under 14 months. Average period of apprenticeship ... ... ... 3-8 Letters received from former inmates ... ... 820 Information received from former apprentices ... ... 330

B.— Admissions and Discharges during the Year.

C.— Comparative Working, &c., Ten Years Ago and Now, showing Growth of Institution.

Particulars. No. Total. Particulars. No. Total. Admissions— Committals Eeturned, having been removed from unsuitable places Eeturned ill Eeturned, indentures cancelled for misconduct, absconding, &c. ... Eeturned, employers giving up business ■ Eeturned, medical department 2 3 ISO Discharges— Apprenticed to various, occupa- ; tions ... ... Boys under eleven removed by the State Children's Belief Department Discharged oil petition and otherwise ... it. I Absconded, not captured ... Aborigines Protection Board ... Medical department ... 120 42 15 41 1 1 1 3 1 24 Total admissions 204 Total discharges ... ! 206

For Year ending 30th June. Lclmissions Hscharges !ost per head (net), inmates only Lverage daily number 'otal number on board through year ... 1877. 63 78 £36 18s. 3d. 99 174 I 1887. 189 192 £26 13s. 8d. 214 404 1888. 204 206 £24 6s. 5d. 218 416

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D.— Educational Attainments.

E.— Tlic Classification of Boys according to their Character, on 30th June, 1888. Excellent (boy-oflicers, receiving pay)... Very good ... ... ... ... ... ... 146 Good ... ... ... ... ... ... 24 Indifferently behaved. (These latter eat by themselves, sleep apart from the rest, and are always under the immediate supervision of an officer.) 12 Total ... ... ... ... 210 F. — Beligion of New Committals. Protestant ... ... ... ... ... 118 = 65-6 Eoman Catholic ... ... ... ... ... 62 = 34-4 G.— Particulars of Parentage of New Committals. Mother deserted, father dead ... ... 1 Father in gaol, mother dead ... ... 4 Parents unfit to have charge of children ... 24 Father dead, mother a drunkard, cannot control 8 Mother a prostitute, father deserted ... 7 Mother dead, father cannot control ... 16 Mother a prostitute, father in gaol ... 1 ! Parents neglecting or unable to control ... 29 Mother a prostitute, father dead ... 8 I Father deserted, mother dead ... ... 6 Mother in gaol, father dead ... ... 6 j Father a drunkard, mother dead ... 2 Parents in gaol ... ... ... 3 j Father deserted, mother unable to control ... 5 Father a drunkard, mother a prostitute ... 5 Father dead, mother married again .. 9 Parents deserted or dead ... ... 42 | Mother dead, father married again ... 2 H.— Ages of Neio Committals, Under 10 ... ... ... ... ... 22} „„„ 10 to 12 ... ... ... ... ... 44( db ' pel cent--12 to 14 ... ... ... ... ... 50) CQQ n iA c i -63-3 per cent. Over 14 ... ... ... ... ... 64) I.— Ages of those remaining on Board on 30th June, 1888. Under 10 .., ... ... ... ... 7 = 33 per cent. 10 to 12 ... ... ... ... ... 90 = 42-8 Over 14 ... ... ... ... ... 113 = 53-9 X.— Birthplaces of Committals born out of the Colony. Victoria ... ... ... ... •■■ ... 15 England ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Queensland ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Scotland ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 South Australia ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Italy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 35* * Or, 19-4 per cent, of total committals were born out of the colony. L.— Police-courts sending Boys. Sydney and Newcastle ... ... ... 150, or 83-3 per cent. Country ... ... ... ... ... 30, or 16-7

Reading. Well-1 16^. | Not. Reading. Writing. Li-itlimetic. Total ™H«ff&.|** Well. , Indjf- ! Not. ferently. Kemaining, 30th June, 1887 ... Admitted, 30th June, 1888 I 75 | 26 136 124 I 31 54 75 26 106 124 31 54 75 20 106 124 | 31 54 21S 204 Discharged, 30th June, 1888 ... Remaining, 30th June, 1888 ... 135 ! 96 | 71 103 ... : 185 11 j 96 71 103 ;. li 135 96 71 103 11 206 210

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M.— Cost per Head per Year (Daily Average, 218). £ s. a. Provisions ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,108 4 2 Crockery, mess utensils, knives, forks, cloths, &c. .... ... 60 0 3 Clothing, including tailors' wages ... ... ... ... 758 19 11 Stores, rope, paint, wood, &c. ... ... ... ... 211 19 1 School stationery, library, recreation, good-conduct awards, and repairing band instruments ... ... ... ... 122 11 11 Salaries (including two teachers for school duties) ... ... 1,801 2 3 .Fuel ana light ... ... ... ... ' ... ... 87 15 10 Boats, oars ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 10 0 Medicines, medical comforts, and surgeon's salary ... ... 64 7 1 Bedding, blankets, and hammocks ... ... ... ... 68 15 0 Repairs generally ... ... ... ... ... 254 7 8 Various petty charges ... ... ... ... ... 45 14 6 Gross cost, only those on board ... 5,616 7 8 Deduct contributions ... ... ... 314 1 0 Net cost ... ... ... ... 5,302 6 8 Or £24 6s. sd. each, being £2 7s. 3d. less than last year. Expenses of Apprentices. £ s. a. Proportion of salaries ... ... ... .... ... 200 0 0 Visiting, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... 46 16 10 Cost ... ... ... ... 246 16 10 Net Cost to State of all " Vernon" Boys under Control. £ s. a. Average number on ship, 218—cost ... ... ... 5,302 6 8 apprenticed, 420—cost ... ... ... 246 16 10 Total cost of 638 maintained ... ... 5,549 3 6 Cost per head per annum, £8 13s. lid., or 5-J-d. daily.

The Superintendent, Nautical School-ship "Vernon," to the Undbe- Secretary of Public Instruction. Sir, — Nautical School Ship "Vernon," Sydney, 2nd May, 1889. I have the honour to submit my annual report upon the nautical school-ship " Vernon " for the year ended the 30th April, 1889. The institution was established at the commencement of May, 1867, and has thus completed its twenty-second year. 2. The work of the institution continues to steadily increase, and the year's operations showed a larger number of admissions and discharges than in any previous year. There were 209 boys admitted, and 207 left the ship. In all, 436 boys were dealt with on board during the twelve months. 3. The accommodation has been severely strained throughout, and the ship has been overcrowded. Notwithstanding, the health has been excellent. No deaths have occurred and no serious sickness. An unusual number of newcomers were found suffering from itch on arrival, and that complaint has principally made wp our sick-list. At the present time we are entirely free from any illness whatever. It may be here mentioned that only two deaths have taken place during the last thirteen years, out of 1,784 boys who have been on board. Both deaths were from heart-disease, with which the two lads were severely suffering when admitted. 4. The conduct of the inmates has been admirable. No abscondings have taken place. The gravest offences have consisted of apprentices having to be returned to the ship for misconduct at their situations. There are now only eighteen lads, including newcomers, in the lowest-conduct class. The boys have been cheerful and contented, and a healthy public feeling has 'been maintained amongst them. 5. The apprentices have increased, and the daily average of these under my control was 450. Few complaints have reached me respecting them, and the reports of a recent inspection, together with the letters of masters, visitors, and boys, give the following results : — Total number of apprentices ... ... ... 450 .Favourably reported upon ... ... ... 420 =93 per cent. Unfavourably reported upon ... ... ... 30 = 7 „ Some of these lads have been upwards of five years away, and some of them now doing well were unfavourably reported upon in the preceding year. These latter were brought back to the ship, and after another period of probation were placed in other situations with good results. That so many of our boys do well at service is very largely attributable to the great assistance rendered by the Inspector-General of Police, and by the benevolent persons who so kindly visit the lads. 6. Particulars of the school-work done on board will be found given in Table I. Nearly a third of the newcomer lads received no education prior to being sent on board ; and three-fourths of the remainder could barely read. Every boy receives three hours' school instruction daily. Mr 2—H. 4.

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District-Inspector McCredie, in his recent inspection, made the following remarks: "Order —good. Discipline—good. Proficiency—tolerable." 7. A considerable reduction has taken place in the expenditure per head. The ship cost £300 less than the preceding year, notwithstanding more boys were dealt with. The lads on the ship cost £23 each. Altogether, including the apprentices, 669 boys was the average daily number under my control, and the cost for the year £7 18s. 9d. each, which is the lowest sum yet reached. 8. Eeligious instruction has been conducted on board by the Eev. W. Charlton, Eev. J. Hagarty, Eev. A. Turnbull, Eev. A. Boyle, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mrs. Ford, and occasionally by other ladies and gentlemen. The religious instructors are worthy of all praise for their kindness and earnest labours. On Sundays the boys landed and marched to their respective places of worship. 9. A large number of ex-" Vernon" apprentices visited us during the year, and a correspondence has been maintained, to the extent of many hundreds of letters, with a still larger number of former inmates. It is one of the most pleasant things in connection with the ship to find that such a friendly feeling prevails. 10. The officers continue to perform their duties in a cheerful, hearty spirit. They have shown an interest in their work, and have been patient and kind to the boys. I have, &c, Feedk. W. Neitenstein, Commander and Superintendent.

A.— Cost per Head for Year (Daily Average, 219). £ s. a. Provisions ... ... ... ... ... 1,931 5 5 Crockery, mess utensils, knives, forks, &c. ... ... 35 16 2 Clothing ... ... ... ... ... 644 14 1 Stores, rope, paint, &c. ... ... ... ... 196 13 1 School stationery, good-conduct awards ... ... 66 5 2 Salaries (including two teachers for school duties) ... ... 1,842 11 10 Fuel and light ... ... ... ... ... 89 7 3 Boats and oars ... ... ... ... ... 46 16 0 Medicines and surgeon's salary ... ... ... 97710 Bedding, hammocks, and blankets ... ... ... 90 7 6 Eepairs generally ... ... ... ... 223 7 8 Various petty charges ... ... ... ... 39 4 10 Gross cost of only those on board ... 5,303 16 10 Deduct parent's contributions... ... 270 0 0 Net cost ... ... ... 5,033 16 10 Or £23 each, being £1 6s. sd. less than last year, and the lowest cost in the ship's history. Expenses of Apprentices. £ s. d. Proportion of salaries ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 Visiting, stamps, &c. ... ... ... ... 76 16 9 Total ... ... ... ... 276 16 9 Net Cost to State of all " Vemon" Boys under Control. £ s. d. Average number on ship, 219 —cost ... ... ... 5,033 16 10 apprenticed, 450—cost ... ... 276 16 9 Total cost of 669 maintained ... ... 5,310 13 7 Cost per head per annum ... = £7 18 9 daily ... ... =005

B.— Admissions and Discharges during the Year.

Particulars. No. : Total. Particulars. No. Total. Admissions — Committals Eeturned, various causes • • • 194 15 Discharges— Apprenticed Young boys transferred to the State Children's Relief Department Otherwise discharged 125 ! I 34 48 % 71 i I Total admissions 209 Total discharges 207

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C. — Character Classification of Boys on Board on the 30th April, 1889. Excellent (boy-officers receiving pay) ... ... ... ... 27 Very good ... ... ... ... ... ... 154 Good ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 Indifferently behaved. (These latter eat by themselves, sleep apart from the rest, and are always under the immediate supervision of an officer.) ... ... ... ... ... ... 18 Total ..'. ... ... ... 229 D. — Beligions of the Neiv Committals. Protestant ... ... ... ... 116 = 59-8 per cent. Eoman Catholic ... ... ... ... 77 = 39-7 Jew ... ... ... ... ... 1= 0-5 'E.-'Ages of the New Committals. Under 10 ... ... ... ... ... 23] „, - , 10 to 12 ... ... ... ... ... 44j=34' 5 Percent--12 to 14 ... ... ... ... ... 58)_ R ck Over 14 ... ... ... ... ... 69J'- DO° F.— Ages of the Boys on Board on 30th April. Under 10 ... ... ... ... ... 4= 1-7 per cent. 10 to 12 ... ... ... ... ... 40 = 17-4 12 to 14 ... ... ... ... ... 91 = 39-7 Over 14 ... ... ... ... ... 94 = 41-0 G.— Particulars of Parentage of Committals. Mother deserted; father dead ... ... 4 Father dead; mother a drunkard ... 4 Parents unfit to have charge of children ... 38 Father dead ; mother cannot control ... 6 Mother a prostitute ; father deserted ... 6 Mother dead ; father cannot control ... 11 Mother a prostitute; father in gaol ... 2 Mother dead ; father deserted ... ... 1 Mother a prostitute; father dead ... 10 Parents neglecting or unable to control ... 62 Mother in gaol; father dead ... ... 3 Father deserted ; mother unable to control ... 3 Mother a prostitute; father a drunkard ... 7 Father dead; mother married again ... 4 Parents deserted or dead ... ... 23 Mother dead ; father married again ... 5 Father in gaol; mother dead ... ... 4 Father deserted; mother a lunatic ... 1 H.— Police-courts sending Boys. Sydney and Newcastle ... ... ... ... 151 = 77-8 per cent. Country ... ... ... ... ... 43 = 22-1 I.

[Remarks made by Mr. District-Inspector McCredie at last examination of school: Order, good : discipline, good.] X. — Birthplaces of Committals not Natives of the Colony. England ... ... ... ... ... 15= 7-7 per cent. Victoria ... ... ... ... ... 12= 6-2 Queensland ... ... ... ... ... 7= 3-6 „ Ireland ... ... ... ... ... 7= 3-6 New Zealand ... ... ... ... 6= 3-1 Scotland ... ... ... ... ... 5 = 2-6 South Australia ... ... ... ... 3= 1-5 „ Italy ... ... ... ... ... 1= 0-5 Fiji ... ... ... ... .... 1= 0-5 Total ... ... ... 57 = 29-3 Approximate'' Cost of Paper. —Preparation, nil; printing (1,300 copies), £7 10b.

Authority: Geobge Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB9l.

Reading. Writing. Writing. Ai ■ithmetic. WpII Indl£" WeI1- ferent. I 80 ' 111 25 i 123 . . | Not- WeiL|S. Noti Well. Indif- , T , ferent. Not' Total iemaining, 30th April, 1888 .dmitted, 30th April, 1889 36 61 80 I 25 111 ! 36 123 [ 61 i 80 25 111 I 36 123 j 61 227 209 lischarged, 30th April, 1889 lemaining, 30th April, 1889 160 145 47 84 ... 160 ... 145 | 47 i ... 84 ; ... 160 145 47 | ... 84 ! ... 207 229