9

H.—208

The contribution that the Superintendent (Dr. McKillop) of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital has made to our work cannot be overestimated, and I feel certain that the Department will thoroughly appreciate his help. The Prisoners' Aid Society, through its secretary, the Rev. P. Revell, has been most kind in guaranteeing the fares of probationers to positions in the country, thus relieving myself and the persons concerned of any anxiety in the matter. In conclusion I would like to say that everybody I have appealed to for help in this work responded in a wonderful way, and while such a happy state of affairs exists there is no need to fear for the success of the work. The following are the numbers we have dealt with during the year, and the amounts paid by way of restitution and costs of prosecution: Restitution, £288 10s. 4d.; costs, £34- 16s. 4d. Probationers on register at 31st March, 1928 .. .. .. .. 93 Probationers received from Christchurch Courts .. .. .. 78 Probationers transferred from other districts .. .. .. .. 25 196 Probationers discharged by Prisons Board . . .. . . 1 Probationers left Dominion by permission . . . . . . 1 Probationers sent to mental hospital .. . . . . . . 2 Probationers sent to sanitorium . . .. . . . . . . 1 Probationers completed term of probation . . .. . . 59 Probationers transferred to other districts . . .. . . 33 Probationers committed other offences .. .. .. .. 14 Probationers defaulted .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 — 116 Probationers on register at 31st March, 1929 .. .. .. 80 Mr. J. Garbutt, Probation Officer, Dunedin. I have the honour to submit the annual report on probation work in this centre for the year ended 31st March, 1929, and append a statement relative to the numbers dealt with during that period : — Court Probationers :— Number on register at Ist April, 1928 .. .. .. 82 Admitted to probation by local Courts .. .. . . .. 69 Received on transfer .. .. .. .. .. 8 — 159 Less — Discharged on completion of period .. .. .. .. 41 Discharged by Prisons Board .. .. .. .. 3 Transferred to other places .. .. .. .. 36 Dealt with by Courts on original or subsequent offences and removed from register .. .. .. .. . • 7 Left the Dominion .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Absconders .. .. .. .. • • • • .. 2 — 90 Leaving on register at 31st March, 1929 .. .. .... 69 Releasees from Institutional Control: — Number on register at Ist April, 1928 .. .. .. 8 Released on license during year .. .. .. .. .. 21 Received on transfer from other places .. .. .. 7 — 36 Less — Discharged on completion of sentence .. .. .. .. 12 Transferred to other places .. .. .. .. 8 Returned to institutions on other charges .. .. 2 Licenses cancelled .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Permission granted to leave Dominion .. .. .. 1 — 26 Leaving on register at 31st March. 1929 .. .. .... 10 It was found necessary to take proceedings against twelve probationers for non-compliance with the terms of their release, seven of whom, as previously mentioned, were dealt with on the original or a subsequent charge, while the remaining five were punished in a varying degree according to the nature of their lapse. Restitution to the amount of £364 ss. lid., together with costs of prosecution amounting to £29 19s. 2d., were received during the year. While these figures may not represent a very large monetary value, it is only when one is in a position to know the individual effort, self-denial, and consequent moral benefit required and derived, that a true assessment can be made. Though to some extent overshadowed by the persistent bogey of unemployment, which, unfortunately often reacts with double force on the law-breaker and deprives him of the last vestige

2—H. 208.