H.—2ob

11

latter fails the institution often succeeds. Some form of constant, of more salutary treatment, impossible under the probationary system, is frequently necessary to arouse a proper sense of the futility of wrongdoing. A large proportion of young men who have had their chance under that system, and who owing to their persistent misconduct have been sent to prison or Borstal and then released to complete their sentences on parole, are much more easily controlled or advised, the common-sense acquired proving an invaluable asset in the battle of life. Miss A. J. Simpson, Probation Officer for Women, Wellington. I beg to submit my second annual report as Women's Probation Officer for the City of Wellington and district for the year ended 31st March, 1929. Women offenders admitted to probation at local Courts during the year numbered 22. Three probationers were'received orrtransfer from other districts, making a total of 25 new offenders. At commencement of the year I had 34 women reporting, and these, together with the new probationers, made a total of 59 who came officially under my control during the year. Thirty-five probationers completed their terms more or less satisfactorily, 4 were transferred to other districts, 1 left the Dominion with the Department's approval, and 1 who had committed a breach of the conditions of her license was committed to"prison. This probationer, who was already sentenced on a charge of false pretences, was the most unsatisfactory case dealt with during the year. With the exception of one or two doubtful cases, the women who completed their terms behaved well and gave every indication of|having benefited by the period served under supervision. The majority of the girls placed on probation are employed as domestics or waitresses in restaurants, and it is rarely that a girl who has been trained in any skilled occupation comes before the Court. Although it is comparatively easy to place probationers as domestics in good homes in the country districts, I experienced a difficulty in persuading some probationers to go to the country, as life in the city has a greater appeal to them. In the work of rehabilitating young women offenders, especially those who have undergone detention in an institution, the difficulties encountered are undoubtedly greater than is the case with young male offenders. Young* women who on probation from institutions, and who are placed in domestic service in specially selected private houses where they do not come in contact with their institution associates, appear to behave better and recover their former places in the community much more readily than those who, for preference, take up employment in city restaurants or factories. This is an indication that probationers should not be encouraged, except under special circumstances, to meet and associate with one another after release from an institution, nor is it desirable, as a general rule, that they should be employed immediately after release in city occupations where they come in contact almost continuously with all classes of young men and women. I consider it would be much better for them if upon release they were first employed in the country. The offenders who are admitted to probation in the Court are, of course, permitted to take up whatever employment they are suited for. Some of the girls continue after their appearance in Court with their previous employers. This is rendered possible by making a special appeal to the employer to assist in the effort to save the offender from adopting a criminal career. In a number of cases the co-operation of a new employer is invoked in exercising supervision and taking a friendly interest in his or her probationer employee. This has much to commend it, for it is noticeable that when the right contact between employer and employee is established the probationer invariably makes good. Some of the girls are linked up with the Y.W.C.A. movement. I consider this very satisfactory and hopeful, indicating as it does that the probationer is desirous of associating with young women of the right class. Unless it is undesirable for very special reasons, I keep in touch with each individual probationer at her work, and where this is not possible I visit her home and establish friendly relations with her parents or guardians. In dealing with women delinquents I endeavour to imbue them, with a . spirit of thrift —a virtue which unfortunately is generally lacking. It is pleasing to report that a number of the girls have savings-bank accounts, and some of them are so keen to show how well they can save that they exhibit their bank-books after each deposit, while some ask me to keep their bajk-books as an indication that withdrawals are not being made. My thanks are due to the Magistrates for their help and the patient consideration given to cases brought before them, also to the Court officials and the police for their unfailing courtesy. Mr. W. R. r CooK, Probation Officer, Napier. I respectfully beg to submit this my annual report for the year ended 31st March, 1929. The number placed on probation during the year was considerably in excess of that for the previous year, indicating that Magistrates are realizing to a greater extent the value of the Act both to the probationer and the community alike, where the conditions of release are carried out in the right spirit. During the year a large number of probationers have come here from other districts looking for work and assistance, and, thanks to the help received from my Voluntary Probation Committee and others, work has been found in the majority of cases. A pleasing feature of my work as Probation Officer is that in many cases the offenders continue to keep in touch with me by letter after they have left the district on license or have completed their term of probation, while others come when in difficulty for advice. This, lam sure, is the experience of all Probation Officers, and shows that the offenders feel that there is something more personal than official in the relations between themselves and the Probation Officers.

3 —H. 208.