H— 208.

Of the above, the two probationers who left the Dominion have gone to Australia with their families. The probationer at Pakatoa Island is a drug-addict, and at the request of her relatives was committed to the island for two years. The probationer serving a sentence of imprisonment was sentenced in Auckland in 1926 to five years' probation for false pretences. Of the girls who are serving terms of probation under the Offenders Act, the majority are domestics or waitresses. Some of these girls have been in the same situation throughout the year. Others, never having been trained to work and craving for excitement, move from one situation to another every few weeks. I have kept in touch with their homes, and, when possible, with their employers. Prevention of Crime.—Two girls are on license under the Prevention of Crime Act, and are very satisfactory probationers. Industrious, thrifty, amenable, they are in regular employment, and steady application to work, as is well known, counteracts a tendency to delinquency. Both girls are church-goers, have linked up with the Y.W.C.A., and have Post Office Savings-bank accounts. One woman released on license under the Crimes Amendment Act was on probation for a few months before finally completing her term. This probationer behaved in a satisfactory manner. When one considers the difficulty of the position in which an old offender finds herself on release from prison—no associates of the right class to create a new and wholesome environment —it is not surprising that some of them drift back into crime. It is in this work of rehabilitating the fallen that the practical social worker is required. Old offenders, as well as many of our young delinquents, respond to the appeal of the genuine and sincere Christian social worker who can approach them in the right manner. It is considered by many that the most successful social workers among women offenders are those who have gained an understanding through hard experience of the lives and habits of the workingclass women, from whom, unfortunately, the great majority of such offenders have sprung. In quite a number of cases parents, employers, and the Magistrate have sought my assistance with wayward girls, and I have endeavoured to do preventive work with, I hope, satisfactory results. A Voluntary Probation Committee has been formed during the year, and it has proved most helpful, the women doctors providing medical services, other members helping in obtaining employment and providing the necessary personal touch. All this tends to make the work successful. Members have also supplied magazines and books, which I loan to the girls from time to time. In every case where I have recommended probation the Court has been pleased to grant it, and so far no probationer has given me cause to regret my recommendation. Mr. C. G-. L. Pollock, Probation Officer, Invercargill. I have the honour to submit the following report on the working of the probation system in the Invercargill District for the year ended 31st March, 1928 : — Offenders Probation Act Probationers. —At the beginning of the year there were 31 males and 1 female on the register. During the year 20 males and 1 female were admitted to probation, and 8 males received on transfer from other districts, making a total of 59 males and 2 females dealt with during the period under review. This is 4 more than for the corresponding period last year. Thirteen males and 1 female satisfactorily completed the term of probation; 15 males and 1 female Were transferred to other districts ; 1 male left the Dominion with permission ; for failing to comply with the terms of release 1 male was sentenced to six months' hard labour on the original charge, and 1 male was committed to the Borstal Institution for three years for a similar offence, leaving 28 males and no females reporting at the end of the year. Of those admitted to probation, 9 were for a period of one year, 5 for two years, and 7 for three years. In ten cases costs of prosecution, amounting to £26 6s. 6d., were ordered to be paid, and restitution amounting to the sum of £136 lis. 9d. was ordered to be made. For the period under review the sum of £8 19s. 4d. was received under the former heading and lodged to the credit of the Public Account, while the sum of £82 12s. 6d. collected as restitution-moneys was paid over in accordance with orders made by the Courts. Crimes Amendment Act Probationers. —At the beginning of the year there were 3 probationers reporting, 3 were received from the Borstal Institution, 6 were transferred from other districts, making a total of 12 dealt with during the year, which is an increase of lon last year's figures. During the period under review 7 probationers satisfactorily completed their terms, 1 was transferred to another district, leaving 4 reporting at the end of the year. With two exceptions the conduct of those admitted to probation from the Courts has been satisfactory. In one case the offender was dealt with on a fresh charge and committed to the Borstal Institution, while in the other the conduct of the probationer was so unsatisfactory that he was dealt with on the original charge and sent to prison. With reference to those released from institutions on probationary license it is gratifying indeed to be able to report that their conduct has been all that could be desired : In no single instance was it necessa.rv to recommend the cancellation of a license. This year a forward move has been inaugurated in a direction which past experience has indicated with repeated emphasis. Organized voluntary reinforcement of the efforts to give effect to the purposes of probation has been put into practical shape. In July last a visit was paid to this district by the Field Organizer, who was instrumental in having a Voluntary Probation Committee set up under the chairmanship of the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. G. Cruickshank. One of the important functions of the Committee is to assist the Probation Officer in seeing that his charges are placed in suitable employment; and lam greatly indebted to its members for help in this connection. But friendly good offices are exercised in a variety of ways to the encouragement of young people endeavouring to rehabilitate their good name. Especially to a probationer who has had no one to take a personal interest

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