9

H.—2ob

The total dealt with during the year is 4 in excess of the previous year's total, and includes no female probationers, while there are 2 less remaining on the roll at the end of the year. Although the number of probationers dealt with for further lapses is in excess of the previous year's corresponding figures, this must not be taken as reflecting upon the system so much as indicating a larger proportion than usual of cases wherein hopes of reclamation are low in the scale. Two of the offenders had previously served terms of imprisonment; 2 presented problems with which only institutional training could cope, while 1, a border-line mental case, had to be sent to a Home. Of those who completed their term satisfactorily it is gratifying to be able to report that, so far as is known, they are doing well. The past year has not been an easy one as far as employment is concerned, but, thanks to the efforts of the members of the voluntary probation committee and other helpers, valuable assistance was given to probationers in finding employment even if only temporary. For the greater part of the year Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., was the relieving Magistrate, and I desire to place on record the kindly interest he took in this work, and his sympathetic understanding of those brought under his notice. The services of Dr. Burns Watson have always been available for any cases where a medical examination was considered advisable in the offenders' best interests. The personnel of the voluntary committee remains unchanged, except in the case of Mr. G. E. Pollock, who resigned on his removal from Invercargill. This gentleman was a most enthusiastic member, whose departure was much regretted. Mr. C. A. Davis, who has been appointed to the vacancy, is proving a worthy successor. To the Court staff and officials of the Police Department I am indebted for the courtesies extended to me in my work. Mr. H. N. Richardson, Probation Officer, Gisborne. I beg to submit my annual report for the year ending 31st December, 1929. On the register at the beginning of 1929, 33 ; received from other parts during the year, 6 ; transferred to other parts, 16 ; completed terms of probation, 19 ; on the register 31st December, 1929, 34 ; 1 probationer was rearrested and sentenced to hard labour at Mount Eden Prison. I wish to thank those gentlemen of the Gisborne Probation Committee for their kindness in helping me during the year. My thanks are due also to Mr. J. Jackson, Labour Department, who took a special interest in placing men on railway-works, &c., round Gisborne and Wairoa. All the young men discharged from Prisons (Crimes Act) are doing well; some on stations outside of the town, others on farms near Gisborne. Of the 34 probationers on the register, only 2 are not in employment. Mr. W. R. Cook, Probation Officer, Napier. I respectfully beg to submit this my annual report for the year ending December, 1929. During the year 21 males and 1 female were placed on probation, a slight increase on the preceding year, while 36 were received from other districts, 8 have been discharged, and 36 transferred, leaving on the register 15. During the year the calls on the voluntary committee have been very light, as, owing to local labour-conditions, strangers coming into the district, unless having special qualifications, had little or no chance of obtaining employment, and all that could be done for them was to send them where work was likely to be found. That I was fortunately able to do through a small fund controlled by the Mayor, Mr. J. V. Brown. Taking into consideration the mentality, youth, and other characteristics, the conduct of nearly all probationers has been fairly satisfactory, only in one or two instances have offenders had to be brought before a Magistrate for failure to report. Again, I have to thank all those who have helped me when approached for assistance in obtaining work or information. Mr. W. Dineen, Probation Officer, New Plymouth. During the period under review the provisions of the Act have been invoked to the fullest reasonable extent. On the 31st December, 1928, there were 21 probationers on the books, 26 cases were received from the Court, and 10 were received from other districts. Of these, 28 are still on the books, 18 have been transferred to other districts, 3 were sentenced to a term of imprisonment for serious crimes, 8 have completed their term and have been discharged. The majority of the cases received from the Court were young men under twenty years of age. Inquiries made before their cases were dealt with revealed the fact that continued attendance at billiard-rooms and dance-halls was the chief cause of their downfall, therefore special conditions were recommended, and in most cases imposed, to prevent the youths continuing their visits to these places, and the results have been satisfactory. To see that these conditions are reasonably carried out means a fair amount of supervision especially at night. However, the result seems to justify the effort. In most cases one has the co-operation and assistance of the parents, but occasionally one meets with opposition, and I regret to say that in one case where a father opposed me in an endeavour to get his son to keep better companions while on probation the result was disastrous to both father and son. In this case nothing would convince the father that his son was in the habit of mixing with evil companions, and when an endeavour was made to get the son out into the country the father successfully opposed the movement. The result was that after his term of probation was finished the youth hoodwinked his father and joined up with a gang of youths who were operating in this district. Consequently he received three years' Borstal treatment. It has been my experience that to find a decent job for a youth does more to bring him to a sense of his responsibility than any amount of exhortation. One of the greatest difficulties of the year has been the finding of employment for probationers who have no country or farm experience. However,

2—H. 208.