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In sport and recreation a development during the 1948-49 season was that of permitting representative boys to travel to athletic meetings and ball games as far afield as Wanganui and Palmerston North to the north and Wellington to the south. Several lads from the Centre are affiliated with the Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club and have -travelled with other members to district meetings, as indicated above. Three softball teams were fielded, resulting (as in 1944) in the B team carrying off the Homer Shield and the A team reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated for the Centre Shield. Interest in cricket has been stimulated by several visits to the Centre from members of the Palmerston North and Levin Chambers of Commerce. The interest taken by these bodies in the Centre is most gratifying and, indeed, has been most helpful to us. Initiated in 1946, the practice of permitting boys to attend Divine services in the Churches of their choice, and there to mix freely with the congregation, has fully justified expectations, and there is a growing sincerity about Church attendance. Moreover, as stressed in last year's report, these unsupervised contacts with members of the community undoubtedly have a beneficial effect. The health of the boys has been excellent. That the Centre has escaped the ravages of poliomyelitis speaks well for the standard of personal and general hygiene. A very happy atmosphere prevails among the residents of the School Section at Hokio Beach. Some considerable attention has been given during the year to renovating and painting, particularly the interior of the building, and it is hoped that shortly electric power will be available to add •considerably to the comfort and convenience of the residents. The table below shows the admissions and discharges for the period under review : Roll at 31st March, 1948 .. .. .. .. .. 52 Admissions during year .. .. .. .. 34 Discharges during year . . .. .. .. 34 Roll at 31st March, 1949 .. .. .. .. .. 52 Average length of residence a,t Senior Section : 14 months. Average length of residence at Hokio Beach Section : 14-6 months. Causes for admission were : Offences against property .. .. .. .. 21 Not under proper control ... .. .. .. 8 Sex offences .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Persistent absconding from other institutions .. .. 2 Truancy was noted in 11 cases. (b) Burwood:— Important developments in recent years have been directed towards the provision of improved vocational, educational, and leisure-time facilities and a better assessment of children's abilities and aptitudes, and of the underlying emotional causes of their problems. To-day it can be said that we give the girls at the Centre individual attention and strive to meet each girl's needs. During the year a consultative group was formed which met regularly to discuss cases. The group is composed of our honorary psychologist, our medical adviser, a practising psychiatrist, a Medical Officer of the Mental Hygiene Division of the Health Department, and the Principal, Vice-Principal, nurse, and the two housemistresses from the Centre. At each meeting the cases of two girls were studied, the doctors receiving full case histories and interviewing the girls concerned. Each week the Matrons of the four cottages met to discuss problems and progress of the girls. General staff meetings, lectures, and informal discussions were held regularly. The honorary psychologist continued to visit monthly and assist the staff with the more difficult ■cases. The Girls' Council, commenced in 1947, has now become an integral part of the life of the Centre. It has given the girls more confidence, has helped to build a more positive and co-operative spirit, and has enabled them to gain experience in democratic procedure. The Council has been responsible fQr the planning of many leisure-time activities, including concerts and parties, the running of a canteen, and the establishment of a newspaper. Leisure-time activities have comprised drama, including the reading of plays, production of plays .and tableaux, and assisting in making scenery and costumes ; poetry reading; first aid and home nursing ; singing and music, including the formation of a harmonica band; films and library; handwork, including weaving, crocheting, embroidery, and the making and dressing of toys and dolls; babycraft, a new activity through which the girls learn the correct procedure of bathing, feeding, .and handling babies ; free painting ; publication of the Centre News, a monthly newspaper which has proved very popular and which features items of interest, activities of the Centre, health and fashion hints, library reviews, and a personal-problem section ; a comprehensive spOrts and physical education programme.

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