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majority of girls, however, do appear willing to learn in an attempt to fit themselves for a useful life in the community. Native girls were admitted in a smaller proportion than formerly, due, I imagine, to the absence of servicemen in the cities, plus the return of the Maori soldiers from overseas service. As a result of the smaller musters, the output from the industries is less, but all have been fully occupied during working-hours. An average of 5 girls are employed in the laundry, where contracts are handled in small quantities for Government and Navy Departments. A sound training is given in all branches of the work, most of the girls being quite interested while in the institution. In the sewing-room, garments are made for the Porirua Mental Hospital, various small outside orders, besides all our institution requirements—this includes clothing for the girls on release as well as staff uniforms. The training is varied and thorough and those with sufficient ability should be able to enter the trade as experienced hands. It is observed that most of the girls are keen to learn knitting, embroidery, and tatting. A surprising number are quite ignorant of these homely arts when they enter the institution—even personal mending is beyond many, their dilapidated clothing being proof of this fact. This may be a sign of a lack of interest on the part of parents, or the girls themselves may have neglected to learn what used to be considered the essential part of girls' home training. Many of our inmates are not from happy family circles, but the majority appear to have avoided anything which resembles training for future home-making. Cooking is popular with many of the girls, some of them becoming excellent cooks and quite good managers. We attempt to teach them to be self-reliant and resourceful in this work, besides stressing cleanliness and economy. In the institution kitchen the girls' meals are prepared, the menus being varied as much as possible. We feel that by avoiding a really monotonous meal routine we are side-tracking the first excuse for boredom. Similarly, the occupations are varied as often as is practicable. While it is often obvious that a girl is going to prove unteachable in a certain department, the majority have a turn at all phases of domestic training and gardening. During the twelve months just passed 22 inmates were dealt with for breaches of discipline, 16 of these being escapes. Generally speaking, the behaviour of inmates is improving. Life outside the institution is not quite as exciting as before, thus the incentive to escape is not as great. It is noticeable that very few girls received here have remained in any one situation for an appreciable length of time ; there is a definite failure to realize the advantage of references for service given when future employment is sought; rather they take the attitude of working where the conditions are easy going and not too many questions asked. To me this is a bad sign, for there does not appear to be the slightest obligation to give of one's best services. Many of the girls are thriftless, a very small minority having banking accounts, few possess adequate wardrobes, nor are they greatly concerned by the lack of these things. They are apparently content with a little top show and not too much consideration for the future. This gives rise to the thought that perhaps the early years were spent in an atmosphere where improvidence was the rule, the future being left more or less to itself and debt not a cause for concern. On New Year's Day, 1946, Easter, and Christmas, 1946, the girls enjoyed picnicking on the hills, lunch being taken in the open and greatly enjoyed. These all-day trips are by far the most popular events in the holiday programme. An almost perfect spot has been found away from the building, where a large clump of native bush provides the necessary shade and water is available from a stream in the vicinity. We are indebted to the following for donations which helped considerably at Christmas-time : the Women's Borstal Association for gifts and cake ; the Borstal Committee for a cash donation ; Howard League for fruit and books ; the Catholic Sisters for gifts ; Miss A. Sloan for sweets ; and the W.A.A.F. personnel at Shelly Bay for a large Christmas cake. These items, with the girls' own parcels and the institution supply, proved ample for the most hearty appetities. On Boxing Night the girls gave a concert and the performance was greatly enjoyed by all.

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