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unemployment of the total of those on probation, has only been accomplished by consistent and persistent effort on the part of the Probation Officers and committeemen. In many cases the conditions that have to be dealt with are not only those of the probationer himself, but his surroundings —his family, &c. Unless the home background is stabilized, and in some cases reorganized, the probationer cannot be expected to put his heart into the new work found for him. Complete success in handling a case is sometimes marred by an officer who fails to realize the necessity of going beyond the needs of the probationer himself. The thanks of this Department are due to the business men of this Dominion who by their co-operation with these committeemen during the year have encouraged this effort. There are many instances of executives, fully conversant with the doubtful qualities of many of the probationers to whom they have given employment, who have later been recompensed by faithful service, and by final complete satisfaction resulting in the probationers' promotion to further responsibilities. It has been well said that pioneering-work means risk. Those who take it have at least the satisfaction that they have given a fellow-being a chance, and, in so far as is justified, they have fulfilled a worthy public service. The position created when a probationer, giving every attention to his employment, is discharged for no other reason than the fact that his employer has been informed that he had once made a slip is in some instances worse than if employment had never been offered. The unfortunate probationer is forced by such circumstances to lose faith in himself, and his chances of re-establishment become a very difficult problem for the Probation Officer and his associate committeemen. The month spent as relieving Probation Officer gave me an opportunity of getting a closer insight into the actual working of probation, particularly in regard to Court work, and also of testing out certain ideas in relation to after-care, particularly in regard to establishing more definite contact with religious and social organizations. The ex-inmates of Invercargill Borstal released on probation have proved most satisfactory during the year under review. The co-operation of the Y.M.C.A. and the following-up of the contacts made by the national secretary of that association during the annual camp held at Invercargill for those about to be released, has contributed towards this result, and is much appreciated. The Stipendiary Magistrates of the Dominion, acting as chairmen of the twenty-two Voluntary Probation Committees, have given valuable assistance and wise counsel to the committeemen, and the confidence that they have in their Probation Officers has been demonstrated by the increasing number of problematical cases that have been granted probation. That the valiant attempt made by Probation Officers to assist those under their care to appreciate the necessity to make a life as well as a living, and to lift them from the men they were to the men they should be, is appreciated by most probationers is constantly being proved by the fact that long after the terms of their licenses have expired many of the probationers retain the friendship of their Probation Officers and seek their counsel and advice. As the best thought in the medical world is working to prevent disease by encouraging health, so in the probation field the attempt is on the lines of preventing vice by encouraging virtue. Gerald M. Silvee, Field Organizer.

REPORTS OF DISTRICT PROBATION OFFICERS. Mr. W. J. Campbell, District Probation Officer, Auckland. I have the honour to submit my seventh annual report as Probation Officer of the Auckland District, for the period ended 31st March, 1929. The number admitted to probation by the Auckland Courts during the year was 111, this nunfber being similar to that of the previous year. There has, however, been a further falling-off in the number remaining on the register, the figures this year being 177, as against 192 at the end of the previous year. Appended are the complete figures for the year under review : — Probationers on register at Ist April, 1928 .. .. . . . . 192 Probationers received from Auckland Courts .. . . 11l Probationers received on transfer . . .. .. . . 47 158 Total dealt with .. .. . . .. . . 350 Of these there were — Probationers discharged by Prisons Board .. . . . . . . 7 Probationers completed probationary term .. .. . . . . 77 Probationers transferred to other districts . . . . . . 67 Probationers left Dominion by permission . . . . . . . . 2 Probationers sentenced on original charge . . .. . . . . 5 Probationers sentenced for other offences which the termination of the probationary period antedated.. . . . . . . . . 9 Probationers who absconded and were not traced whose term expired during the period .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 — 173 Total remaining on register at Ist April, 1929 . . .. 177