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deducted from the total number dealt with, which left 222 on the register at 31st December, 1946. Those who committed a breach of their probationary licence were 15-5 per cent, of the total number dealt with, which is slightly more than for the previous year. Of the total number of those who came before the Courts as failing to respond to probation, 25 per cent, were Maoris, again proving themselves less responsive to lenient treatment. The majority of probationers, however, are reporting well and showing their appreciation of the leniency extended to them in the form of probation, but there are always some who are, unfortunately, destined for a criminal career. It seems that this is inevitable. Included in this year's statistics are 58 individuals who were admitted to probation for ship-desertion. Twenty-five left New Zealand for overseas as members of ships' crews and 13 were transferred to other districts. Five of them appeared before Courts on further charges after admission to probation, and 1 was sentenced to a term of imprisonment on the original charge. At the end of the year there were still 19 shipdeserters on the register. For the period Ist April, 1946, to 31st March, 1947, the sum of £1,130 Is. 4d. was collected for restitution and £268 Is. 2d. for costs of prosecutions, making a total of £1,398 2s. 6d. Again this year probationers have met their financial obligations regularly and well. The Summary Penalties Act has been used to the fullest extent during the year and on only one occasion was it necessary to recommend the issue of a committal warrant for the non-payment of a fine. The numbers dealt with in both the adjourned cases and Summary Penalties Act are not included in the statistics given at the commencement of this report. Probationers on Release from Prisons and Borstal Institutions.—There were 89 probationers in this class on Ist January, 1946. One hundred and sixty-one were received on release from the various institutions and 36 were received on transfer from other districts, making a total of 286 dealt with during the period. Of that number, 92 completed the probationary term, 52 were transferred to other districts, 2 were discharged by the Prisons Board, 1 died, and 2 left New Zealand. Fifty-three probationers came before the Court for other offences, and, of these, 47 received [further terms of imprisonment and did not revert to probation either through their probationary licences being cancelled or on account of the sentence being in excess of the probationary term. The remaining 6 reverted to probation. Five of the offenders who appeared before the Court again were habitual criminals. The number remaining on the register at the close of 1946 was 90. The percentage of defaulters was 18-5 per cent., being 1-5 per cent, less than for the previous year. The average monthly number on the register was 102. Maoris in this class again showed a poor response by accounting for 21 per cent, of the total defaulters. The finding of suitable employment for probationers is, happily, still the least of the Probation Officer's worries, and the continued help received in this direction from the National Employment Service and the Vocational Guidance Centre is greatly appreciated. The Courts are making fuller use of the Offenders Probation Act each year, as is shown by the continued steady rise in the number admitted to probation, and this has a very great influence on the attitude of the general public towards probationers. It is pleasing to see employers becoming more understanding and willing to help those who have had the unfortunate experience of appearing before Court. At one time an employer would not entertain the idea of employing a person on probation, no matter what the offence might have been, but to-day quite a number of business men approach the Probation Officer either to re-employ an old servant or to engage a new employee. Persons released on licence experience the greatest difficulty in securing suitable accommodation in Auckland, and it is most disturbing to see a man's good resolutions so suddenly frustrated through not being able to find somewhere to live. The need for a reasonably cheap and well-run non-denominational hostel is a very pressing need in this city.

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