H—2ob
I cannot let the occasion pass without expressing my appreciation for the valuable co-operation from all I have come in contact with in this work; in particular, my colleague, Mr. Aitken. With the friendly co-operation of business people in helping probationers to obtain jobs the prospects for the future in probation work is very bright. Under the Crimes Amendment Act we had 21 reporting at the beginning of the period; 18 were transferred in from other districts, while 48 were released from prisons and 4 from Borstal, making a total of 91 in all; 26 were transferred out, 33 completed their period of supervision, 9 were sentenced on fresh charges, and 3 left New Zealand or disappeared without any trace, leaving a total of 20 men reporting at the end of the year. In conclusion, I wish to pay a tribute to the work of the Discharged Prisoners' Rehabilitation Society. The work of the members is unostentatious but very effective, and I am exceedingly grateful for this help. Mr. E. F. Mosley, Probation Officer, Dunedin Probationers Released TJnder the Offenders Probation Act, 1920. —At the beginning of the year there were 53 probationers on the register, since when 61 have been released on probation by local Courts and 16 have been received on transfer, making a total of 130 dealt with during the year. Of these-25 were discharged after completion of term, 27 were transferred to other districts, 3 left New Zealand, 1 was committed to a mental hospital, 2 were convicted on other charges and imprisoned, and 1 who gave a false age was placed in the care of the Child Welfare Department, leaving a balance of 71 on the register. Six probationers included in the above figures were convicted and imprisoned for short terms and resumed as probationers after their release from prison. Restitution-moneys collected during the period amounted to £422 3s. 6d. r in addition to costs of prosecution, £l5 4s. 6d. The increased total is no doubt due to the high rate of wages ruling. Releases From Borstal Institutions and Prisons.—At the commencement of the year 16 were on the register, since when 23 were released from institutions and 7 were received on transfer from other districts, making a total of 46 dealt with during the year. Of these, 19 were discharged after satisfactorily completing their term, 8 were transferred to other districts, 2 absconded, and 6 were sentenced to imprisonment on furth'er charges, leaving 11 on the register. In four cases moneys for fines or restitution were collected under the Summary Penalties Act, two of these being still under supervision. Work continues to be plentiful and money is circulating freely. Youths doing semi-skilled or unskilled labour frequently earn disproportionately high wages, and when their money is seen not to be used wisely the opportunity has been taken to invite the Court to direct that in the appropriate cases probationer's wages be placed under the control of the Probation Officer. In most cases the young men co-operate very willingly, sometimes depositing their money with thrift clubs, sometimes banking it themselves or bringing it into the office. Only in the case of persistent evasion is an order obtained on a probationer's wages. There seems to be a need for a means of custodial care for individuals who, not being commitable to a hospital as mental defectives, have not the physical and mental capacity to care for themselves. Such persons are usually charged with offences such as being idle and disorderly or vagrancy, unlawfully on enclosed premises, and petty theft. On occasions I have arranged through the kind offices of the Superintendent of the local mental hospital for such men to be received as voluntary boarders, but not every one will consent to this course. May I once again express my appreciation for the helpful co-operation and assistance received by all those engaged in the administration of justice and to the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society of this city.
2—H 208
9