H.— 20

" Mr. Eric Begg, general manager of Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., paid a visit in May, 1943, and was so pleased with the work of the choir that he presented forty copies of the Lyric Collection of Songs recently compiled by me and published by that firm. One copy was presented to each member of the choir then. " A selected party of 16 boys paid a visit by invitation to the Orphans' Club (on 26th June, 1943), giving the whole of the first of "the evening's programme. Their performance was received with great enjoyment by the club, and their behaviour was in every respect gentlemanly. " In August, Mr. Henri Penn, the celebrated pianist (who visited Invercargill as judge in the competitions held here), expressed a wish to hear the choir. He gave a recital programme which included Mendelssohn's " Spring Song," " The Warsaw Concerto," and " The Blue Danube Waltz." This recital was given to the whole of the inmates, and the choir sang a selected programme. Mr. Penn's performance was received with rapt attention. As a result of this visit there were 37 volunteers waiting to have their voices tried for the choir. " Many soloists have been developed during the year and the choir gave perfqpmances on three occasions, those attending including the Chairman of the Visiting Committee, the Mayor, J.P.s, members, of the Ministers' Association, some citizens, and their wives, " One of the outstanding events was a broadcast over the radio, at the invitation of 4YZ, by the choir, on Ist December, 1943. The items were " Beautiful Ohio Waltz," " Home Little Maori," and " Holy City." The Assistant presented the soloists in " Holy City " with copies of suitable songs, and to the choir forty copies of " Soldiers' Chorus " from Faust. " There is no doubt that the boys have developed a taste for good music. Their love of light and shade, accent, rhythm, is really remarkable. It has been a very happy year, and I have received the utmost consideration and help from the Superintendent and every warder. I have just had word that the School Inspectors want to hear the choir, so I hope on some future occasion that I may have the opportunity of letting them have an idea of the work that is being done." Admission to Borstal, while being for corrective and reformative purposes morally, carries with it the intention that a boy shall be educated and trained, as far as is possible, along lines that will assist him to take his place in the community as a useful member on his release. Some boys, owing to physical incapacity or mental infirmity, will never reach a high stage in the working world. Others have possibilities, but there have been many disappointments among those who raised the greatest hopes. Not every one can be given a training in a definite line, such as a trade, but, as far as is possible and expedient, all are given a chance to improve. The Maoris, differing in racial characteristics, are a separate problem. Many are quite good as farm workers or labourers. On the farm, the largest field of fruitful endeavour, the boys who are interested can learn paractically all sides of farm-work —milking, ploughing, planting, harvesting, haymaking, stack-building, sheepshearing, and management, &c. Certain boys arc allocated to the teams and learn about the care and management of horses, use and upkeep of implements and machines. The up-to-date blacksmithy on the farm gives scope for boys to learn such work as is carried on there, and become quite proficient. Of course, only a few can be so absorbed at one time. One or two are attached to the carpentry-shop, where there is a power-driven woodworking-machine. Others are able to learn the principles of painting. A knowledge of the elements of plumbing is available for acquisition by others. The bakehouse provides tuition in that line, and each year several good boys are turned out able to take part in the trade. In the boot-shop a number of boys are usually kept busy doing repair work and gradually progressing to being able to make the finished article in the way of boots and shoes. The farm garden provides the opportunity to many to acquire a working knowledge of this industry. In the butchery-shop, which finds employment for one or two boys, a knowledge of what is required in this useful trade is gained. In short, while a good many boys have to be content with ordinary labouring-work, as best suited to their varying capacities, many as will be seen, have good chances for qualifying for absorption in a standard trade or industry on release. As well as the practical work, inmates are also instructed in the theoretical side at night classes conducted by the officers. As was the position last year, it is still somewhat difficult to secure outside talent to provide entertainments, concerts, &c., although, on the whole, we did quite well in that direction during the year. The Borstal choir is now able to give considerable assistance. Talks have been given on Sunday evenings on the following subjects : " A Trip to Rotorua and the Thermal Regions " ; " Samoa, Its People and Customs," with exhibits; " The Progress of Artillery in the War'" ; "A Trip to the Homer Tunnel " ; "New Caledonia " ; " The Japanese and Their Tactics in the War " ; "By Troopship to England " ; "A Cycle Tour through Nelson and Marlborough " ; "A Rescue at Sea " ; " Experiences as a Prisoner of War " ; " Linen-flax Industry —• Process and Manufacture" ; " Escape from Prisoners' Camp in Greece" ; " Malaya and Singapore," with lantern slides ; " Life on a Hospital Ship " ; " The Future of Russia " ; " The Story of American Dive Bombers " ; " The Dieppe Raid " ; " The Tunisian Campaign " ; " With the R.A.F. in England " ; " The Tokio Raid " ; " Human Courage " ; " Social Diseases " ; " The Sicilian Campaign " ; " Modern Developments in Radio " ; " The General Election " ; "A Trip to the U.S.A." ; "The Early Settlement of Lyttelton" ; "Another Talk on Life in a Prisoner-of-war Camp"; " Fighting with the' Machine-gun Battalion " ; " Work of the New Zealand Division " ; "A Raid on Japanese in Burma." A sacred concert was rendered by St. Peter's Methodist Church Choir in April. St. Paul's Church Choir gave us Christmas carols in December. St. Catherine's College Old Girls' Association supplied a concert in November. The departmental movie-sound picture projector provided suitable programmes at intervals throughout the year. Our library functions satisfactorily, although, owing to the demand for books for soldiers at home and abroad, not many donations of books are now received. The Country Library Service makes periodical visits, and about one hundred books are selected. These offer quite a wide range to suit all tastes. The National Geographic Magazine, The Strand, Illustrated London News, The Auckland Weekly, and one or two other publications are received regularly. Suitable books and papers also come in for the boys from li&me.

2—H. 20.

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