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Behaviour of Inmates. —On the whole, the standard of behaviour in the institution during the year has been good. Only a few lads proved recalcitrant and unresponsive to ordinary routine and discipline. Five inmates were transferred to other institutions on account of escaping and other misconduct. There were 4 escapes during the year, involving 6 inmates. This is slightly below the average for the past few years and is perhaps indicative of a response to a different approach to the problem of escaping. For a period of nine months there were no escapes. Maoris. —As a group they present no special difficulties, being, as a rule, amenable to discipline, and steady workers. The relationship between the Maoris and pakehas is good, there being little or no unhealthy rivalry between them. Some of them come out of rather poor, indifferent homes. Causes of Delinquency. —As Superintendent of the Borstal institution I am often asked, What are the causes of delinquency—whether gambling, drinking, dancing, or other factors are important ? In the case of lads committed to this institution, neither gambling nor drinking appear to be particularly significant. In a few cases an excessive interest in dancing and other forms of entertainment seems to be a contributory cause. High wages and the habit of spending freely, together with inadequate parental control, are certainly relevant factors in some cases. The most important underlying sociological cause of delinquency, however, would appear to be the broken home or unsatisfactory home conditions. The statistics concerning the homes from which the inmates were received during the year are as follows : good home, 18 ; poor home conditions, 20; foster-homes, 12; no known parents, 9; parents separated or divorced, 27 ; one parent only living, 32. Most of our lads have also a poor work history, having been in and out of numerous jobs of one kind or another. Occupational and Vocational. —One of the most important functions of the institution is to provide suitable work for the inmates and to teach them good work habits. The average length of time spent in the institution is about one year. In this short period it is not possible to teach a trade, so that we concentrate mainly on healthy outdoor work, which is calculated to build up the stamina and physique of the lads and to accustom them to regular work habits. The largest number of inmates is employed on the institution farm, which covers some 2,000 acres. The lads are engaged in dairying, pig and sheep farming, ploughing, crop-growing, shearing, harvesting, fencing, ditching, and other various farm activities. The officers in charge of the various parties are qualified instructors and provide the inmates with practical and theoretical training in all lines of farming-work. Attached to the institution there is a blacksmith's shop, a carpentry and joinery shop, a plumber's shop, and a bootmaking shop. During this past year we have added a considerable number of machines in our workshops in order to give the lads trained in the institution more familiarity with standard practices and routine in modern, wellequipped workshops. There is, besides, a painting shop, brickwork and concreting, a bakery, a butcher's shop, and a well-equipped modern laundry. Inmates are given experience in all these trades, and in many cases they became proficient enough to be able to follow up the work on release. Bookbinding is an additional industry which has been introduced this year. This industry not only fulfils a very useful function with respect to our own institution library, but is of service to a number of public and private libraries by rebinding several thousand books for them. Evening Glasses. —Wool-classing and Agriculture Classes : These classes, which have been conducted for many years, have again worked out successfully. They give to those boys who intend to take up farming as a vocation an opportunity to obtain a theoretical as well as a practical knowledge of farming methods.

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