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not earn a remission, and who probably has distinctly anti-social tendencies, serves his sentence but is then discharged unconditionally. In the Prevention of Crimes (Borstal Institution Establishment) A.ct, 1924, provision is made for supervision to run on for twelve months after the expiry of the term for which detention was ordered. I am of opinion that it would be an advantage in many respects if the Crimes Amendment Act were amended to make provision for a, term of probation to be imposed, at the Prison Board's discretion, after the expiry of a sentence in any cases where the Board considers that a term of probationary supervision would be beneficial to the offender, and desirable in the interests of society. Dealing with the Crimes Amendment Acts statistics for the past year, it is to be noted that during the year 208 cases were admitted to probation on the recommendation of the Prisons Board. Only twenty-one of these were recommitted to prison for breaches of their license. The success of the cases paroled may be judged from the fact that during the quinquennium ended 31st December last 1,094 prisoners who had been sentenced to terms of reformative detention or hard labour were released on parole, and during the five years only 138, or 12-6 per cent., were recommitted for breaches of conditions of their probation or for other offences. During the same period 107 habitual criminals were released on parole, and fifty had to be recommitted for non-compliance with their probationary conditions. Probation to be effective necessitates close and constant attention. This cannot be given to each probationer if the Probation Officer is required to attend to each individual case. In my report last year I pointed out that for probation work to be constructive it is essential that close and personal attention should be given to each case ; and in order to accomplish this the Probation Officers should invite voluntary social workers to co-operate with them —as is done in England—to impart the " personal touch " which makes probation real. It was suggested that the Probation Officers should form associate committees of voluntary Probation Officers, who would undertake the individual persona] supervision of each probationer allotted to them. Following your approval of my recommendations, steps were taken during the past year to appoint full-time Probation Officers in each of the four centres. Although commendable work has been done by those gentlemen who have fulfilled the duties in the past as part-time officers, it was recognized that proper organization of the work necessitated the attention of officers whose full time could be devoted to the work. Mr. J. Garbutt has been appointed as full-time Probation Officer at Dunedin in lieu of the Rev. F. G. Cumming, who rendered splendid service to the Department, though handicapped by his heavy duties as secretary of other social-service organizations. Mr. W. H. Darby has been appointed at Christchurch in place of the Rev. Frank Rule, to whom the Department is also much indebted for many years of helpful work. Mr. Darby has also taken over the cases under the Crimes Amendment Act previously entrusted to Major Haines, of the Salvation Army. In Wellington Mr. T. P. Mills, who was previously acting in a part-time capacity, was reappointed on a full-time basis, taking over also the Crimes Amendment Act cases, previously under the care of Major Greenfield, of the Salvation Army. Miss A. J. Simpson has been appointed as Probation Officer for women, in place of Mrs. Brigadier Glover, of the Salvation Army. In Auckland no alteration has yet been made in the existing arrangements under which Mr. W. Campbell acts as Probation Officer with the assistance of Mr. J. Anderson. Mr. G. M. Silver has been appointed Field Organizer to assist in the formation of voluntary committees and to supervise the organizing of the probation work in the secondary towns. Good progress has already been made in the formation of committees. The ready response to requests for assistance in finding employment, and the willingness with which representative citizens in the main secondary towns have agreed to undertake this important public service, has been most encouraging, and augurs well for the future efficiency of the probation system. In each town in which committees have so far been formed the aim has been to secure the co-operation of all social and religious organizations. The Department is indebted to the Magistrates, who, in each town, have kindly consented to act as chairman of the voluntary committees. This procedure is along the lines of the English practice, and has the advantage that through the Magistrate the Court will be kept closely au fait with what probation actually means in his district. In this connection it is interesting to quote from a circular issued by the Home Secretary to Magistrates in England last year : — " It may be said that there are three elements which are essential to success in probation work. First, it rests with the Magistrates both to exercise a wise discretion in releasing on probation persons who are likely to profit by the method and also to take a sympathetic interest in supervising the work of the Probation Officers ; secondly, Probation Officers must be selected who by their personal qualities and experience are likely to exercise a strong influence over the probationers committed to their care; and, thirdly, the Probation Officers must rally to their assistance all the social and religious agencies of the neighbourhood." There has been a certain fear expressed that by utilizing social and religious agencies sectarian influence will become evident. This has not been experienced in other countries. It is not intended that voluntary associate Probation Officers will appear in Court. The question of determining and recommending to the Court where a case is suitable for probation will devolve upon the official Probation Officer. Until the system is more thoroughly organized a fairly definite line of demarcation will be drawn between the question of after-care and the investigation work for the purpose of making reports to the Court under section 5 of the Offenders Probation Act. Voluntary Probation Officers will concentrate their care and attention on reclamation work. They will endeavour to place the probationers in suitable employment, and will exercise friendly oversight, and as far as possible, by

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