H —20b.

Mr. R. W. Arnold, Probation Officer, Invercargill. I have the honour to submit the following report for the year ending 31st December, 1934, on the working of the probation system in the Southland district. Offenders Probation Act— On the register at the beginning of the year .. .. .. 37 Admitted to probation during the year .. .. . . .. 18 Received on transfer from other districts .. .. . • .. 20 Total dealt with during the year .. . . .. .. 75 Completed probation during the year .. .. .. .. .. 14 Transferred to other districts .. .. .. .. • • .. 37 Reconvicted . . .. .. .. .. .. • • .. 1 Total removed from roll during the year .. .. . • 52 On register at 31st December, 1934 . . .. . • ■ • 23 During the year those admitted to probation were ordered to make restitution amounting to £49 15s. 2d., and in each case the probationers were transferred to other districts before any payments were made. Costs of prosecution amounting to £5 10s. 6d. were ordered to be paid, and the sum of 12s. was collected from one probationer, the others being transferred immediately after conviction. The total amount collected during the year amounted to £22 7s. 6d. Twelve offenders were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence during the year. In these cases restitution amounting to £1 ss. was paid in full, while of the costs amounting to £11 2s. 6d., the sum of £7 12s. was paid, the balance of £3 10s. 6d. representing money due by offenders who were transferred to other districts. Crimes Amendment Act Probationers— On the register at the beginning of the year . . .. .. .. 7 Received from Borstal institutions . . .. . • ■ • .. 7 Received from other institutions .. .. . . • • .. 4 Received from other districts . . .. . . . • • • 4 Total dealt with during the year .. .. .. .. 22 Completed probation during the year .. . . .. .... . ■ 8 Transferred to other districts . . . . .. .. ■ • • • 6 Total removed from roll . . . . . . • • • ■ 14 On register at 31st December, 1934 . . . . . . ■ • 8 On the Ist November, 1934, Major B. Schroeder, of the Salvation Army, was appointed Probation Officer for female delinquents in Invercargill, and the 3 female probationers on the register were transferred to her charge. The conduct of all probationers has, on the whole, been most satisfactory, 2 offenders being sentenced on fresh charges to the following terms —viz., one month hard labour and three years Borstal detention respectively. During the year the majority of probationers have been employed on relief works, some on public works, some on local work, while others have obtained work as general farm hands. Owing to this fact, and consequently the low wages that are being earned, it has been very difficult to collect the restitution-money due, and the payments have been seriously affected. It is pleasing to be able to record, however, that in all cases probationers are doing their best under the circumstances. I desire to express my appreciation for the services rendered by Dr. R. Burns-Watson as Honorary Medical Officer. Mr. T. Stockbe, Probation Officer, Napier. I have the honour to submit my report on the working of the probation system in the Napier district for the year ended 31st December, 1934. Offenders Probation Act: There were 27 probationers on the register at the beginning of the year, and 32 were received during the year, making a total of 59 probationers dealt with. Thirteen probationers completed their probation satisfactorily, 16 were transferred to other districts, and 2 received terms of imprisonment for breaches of probation, leaving 28 on the register at the end of the year. This number included 3 who have absconded and cannot be traced. The general working of the system may be considered very satisfactory, very few of the probationers failing to carry out the.conditions of their probation. It is very gratifying to note that almost without exception every probationer is in employment of some description, the majority being on relief work, others being employed at the local freezing-works. The amount of restitution-money collected (£3B 75.) may be considered satisfactory in view of the hard times, but the amount still outstanding is very considerable, the total amount in two individual cases alone amounting to approximately £100, which it is not possible to collect at present. Thanks are again due to the voluntary probation helpers for their assistance, which was gratefully availed of duirag the year.

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