H—2o.

Point Halswell Borstal Institution. (Superintendent, Miss A. E. Sewell.) On the Ist January, 1937, there were 22 girls in the Borstal Institution ; 14 girls were admitted during the year and 21 discharged, leaving 15 in the institution at the end of the year. Of these, 21 girls were discharged, 10 were released on probationary license, 3 were released under section 16 of the Act, 4 transferred to the care of the Mental Hospitals Department, and 4 transferred to other women's institutions. In the Reformatory Section 8 inmates were in custody at the beginning of the year, 32 were admitted during the year, and 35 discharged, leaving 5 in the institution at the 31st December. The health of the inmates generally has been good. Five girls were admitted to the public hospital during the year, for an appendicitis operation, 1 for mental observation, and 3 for surgical treatment for venereal disease. One girl was.an inmate of the Salvation Army Maternity Home, her child being committed to the care of the Child Welfare Department. In addition, 14 Borstal inmates and 1 Reformatory inmate attended the outpatients' department for clinical treatment three times weekly. Many of the girls are in a poor state of health when received here, and it is invariably noticeable how beneficially the regular hours and simple but adequate dietary react on their general physique. Regular medical and dental attention is available for every inmate, as also the services of a psychiatrist from the Mental Hospitals Department when his advice would be of help to the girl. The conduct and industry of the girls have been most creditable. The organization of the institution ensures that a thorough domestic training is given each one, this including such activities as cooking, cleaning, gardening, jam-making, sewing, mending, and handwork. Also a modern laundry with electrical equipment gives others a skilled trade they can follow on release, if they so desire. It is our aim to equip every girl to be able to hold interesting and lucrative employment instead of being fitted only for unskilled, uninteresting mechanical labour, as is the case in the majority of instances on admittal. When interest and pride in their work is aroused one finds personal initiative developing, and the girls are encouraged to take an intelligent interest in what they are doing. The laundry, for example, copes with all N.Z.B. washing from Wellington centre, as well as for Government Departments, &c., and after allowing for all expenses, supervision, and depreciation last year showed a credit working balance of £206 3s. lOd. During the year the institution has been renovated throughout, and this, with gifts of pictures and new furnishings, has greatly improved the appearance of the institution. The girls' uniforms have also been made more attractive. The installation of a new six-valve wireless set, with loudspeakers in each house, has been appreciated, and the girls listened to the Coronation service, the King's speech, &c., as well as the regular daily programmes. Daily school study and drill have been maintained throughout the year, good progress being reported for the most part. Recreational activities include tennis, swimming, basketball, and table tennis. For seven months of the year swimming parties have regularly visited Shelly Bay, and practically every girl has learnt to sw r im. During the year three tennis matches and five basketball matches were played against visiting teams, the fellowship with the other players (Training College and Bible-c.lass girls) being appreciated. A new venture was the taking of the Fergusson House (senior) girls to a Youth Rally held in the Wellington Town Hall to hear Dr. T. Z. Koo, a notable Christian speaker from China. The girls enjoyed this lecture very much, and their conduct and reliability were extremely good. Concerts and lectures are welcomed as a break in the week's routine. These have included parties given by Mrs. Sprott and the members of the Mothers' Union ; by Mrs. Glover and officers of the Salvation Army ; by the J.P. Association to mark the occasion of the King's Coronation ; by members of the Bible-class Unions ; regular first-aid lectures have been most profitable, led by Mrs. Gaby ; two moving-picture shows were very popular ; and twenty-one other various entertainments were given by other groups. To all these people we are most deeply indebted. To acknowledge this in some small measure at the end of the year the girls themselves gave a concert, entertaining their many friends, the performance being of a high standard. The Maori items and dramatic work were specially good. Christmas festivities were made more attractive by the thoughtful gifts of interested friends. To the Borstal Association, Mrs. Dallard, W. P. Sommerville, Esq., and other friends we express thanks for their generous remembering of the girls at this season. Special features were a carol service on Christmas morning, and a much-appreciated walk over the hills to the Massey Memorial in the evening was enjoyed by the girls ; again in this latter case their response to being trusted " out of bounds " was noteworthy. The after-care of the girls leaving on probationary license is most sympathetically and capably carried out by the members of the Women's Borstal Association, who not only visit the institution regularly, thus getting to know the girls personally before they leave, but also enabling each girl to face life again with a complete outfit. They follow the subsequent careers of the girls with great interest. Our most sincere thanks are due to them. Regular Church services are conducted each week, and we express our indebtedness to the various ministers, Salvation Army officers, Father Uhlenberg, and the Seatoun Convent Sisters, who carry out this work. The Visiting Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. G. C. Edwards, J.P., while fortunately having no disciplinary cases to deal with, have most thoughtfully advised and helped each girl both on her entry to and leaving the institution. That this work, with the general training the girls receive, is bearing fruit in more purposeful lives is evidenced by the splendid way most of the girls rehabilitate themselves as useful members of society. I desire to record also the fine spirit of unselfish co-operation which every member of the staff has shown in her work during the year.

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