H.—208.

meets the circumstances of the a f! 1 flW;u/t S^ nt j® nc ® " nd whether probation adequately »d £ XSpttOSSESI&tt ""in'hk d 0 Tf ice - % repugnant to the standards of a healthy communitv Q Pn J f * V regard leniency is as equally from these standards either gives rise to a clamorous demand"? a V"* ue seve rity. A departure other hand, brings the processes of the law into disrespect. vindictive punishment, or, on the as a practical and scientific m^!dof\reatmert C de^^ned Ut rega^ ded , in all enlighte ned countries the whole of the facts and circumstales Tthe eValuation <> f nature and quality of the offence, and the likelihood of ht ® t ? P ersonallt y of the offender, the supervision. The rationale is that if the ends of instirpL^lsatisfactory response to probationary an offender can be placed under vd lance on n b ? extra " mural methods, and his family, and possibly make reparadorto hr th! 8 th ? * UMe him t( > SU appropriate than imprisonment. adoption of such a course is more should be strictly 18 most desirable that the conditions of full compliance with the " T° at - 5 but the tmc,■ £rtta.Wjrit the oversight is to be rt nil const™,fve .ndTefeM *** of probationers, say, from lorty'to'stoy'" """ 6 """ " limi,ed nu,nb,!r for the formation of Voluntary Probation Committee* ™!? arran S® ments were made a few years ago m finding work and maintaining oveStofZTatione7s Th?^ 618 asslst Probati °» Officers and during the past few years when the matter of seenn'rm T u W ° rked with B reat success, difficulty these committees have rendered invaluable nublf/r loyment has been one of the utmost a large body of voluntary helpers, andthe firm r' 8 mamly to the offorte of probation by those exercising supervision that the snmll +° Co ™P lance Wlt h the conditions of The Crimes Amendment Act Sfa low hT , P g ' has been due. the year on the recommendation of the Prisons Board toTth™ ° n . P robati ™ during breaches of the conditions of their license but thirtv • . j W T rec ommitted to prison for had their licenses cancelled for habitual criminals, dischargees are faced in rehabilitating themselves ' the sm ,]! t dl ®^" ltles wit} > which these as satisfactory. The effectiveness of the present method of Lr 1 fall "res must be regarded the fact that during the five years ended 31 st December last 1 lfi'l nns 1 " , ° a *j® ma - y be judged from were released on probation, and durin.r this period onlv i, ,',l5 P SOners (excluding habitual criminals) to prison for failing to comply with hIi y T ° r «" 3 P er cent., were returned probation, and only 26 per cent, have agtinZ£ ofWs whilst <» I desire again to place on record the J subsequent to discharge. of the Magistrates who act as Chairmen of the Voluntlrv^T^ 011 n the ?? m P athetic co-operation the individual members of the several committees , Probation Committees, and also to tbank officer, „f ,hc Sal vat Army! «d the 222*6? iS f Aitl <W itss&sasa.'- * valuable service rendered by the PoHcf alS ° ° f B. L. Dallard, Chief Probation Officer.

AN EPITOME OF REPORTS OF DISTRICT PROBATION OFFICERS. Mr. W. J. Campbell, District Probation Officer, Auckland Offenders Probation Act: Total dealt with -ra. w i . , moneys collected, £428 12s. 4d. ' ' costs of prosecution and restitution Ihe total number of defaulters waq • * dealt with. The majority of the probationers were re" rit ° f total DUmber As in the past three years, many probationers Dartiriilarh tl ' e P or ted regularly as required. *"' M " findi,,g the conduct of those men released from d r' ng P® ™ 8 ?8 ' ° n the whole in obtaining employment, and the majority of these probationer Great difficulty was experienced works. 1 y nese Probationers were employed on local relief

2