BOYS’ CHARACTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 5, 14 March 1947, Page 6

BOYS’ CHARACTERS

BORSTAL TRAINING The system at the Borstal of dealing with delinquents was the theme of a talk given by Mr H. C. Mathew, superintendent of Invercargill Borstal Institute, to the Invercargill Junior Chamber of Commerce at its monthly tea. He spoke fluently on all phases of the wor, and said he had studied sociology in the United States.

Boys between the ages of 16 and 20 years were admitted to the Borstal for sentences up to five years, said Mr Mathew. From statistics, he said that car conversions was the most prevalent crime at the present time, but theft following very closely.

On admission boys were given a working suit and an evening suit. The speaker stressed the fact that the clothes were not made to make the boys distinctive, but for their wearing qualities. Much was being done under the more modern system now in use than in the past. The idea was to create a situation in which the inmates would build a stronger character and cultivate habits of recreation which would fill their leisure hours upon release. Most of the inmates were poorly educated, two thirds not having attended secondary school at all. Facilities were given to help those boys by arranging classes and educational talks and evenings. The institution had a 16 mm. sound projector, and was now able to screen films.

Every inmate had to work during the .day and was encouraged to take up something which could be of value when he left to become part of the community. The Borstal farm of 2000 acres grazed a variety of stock, and crops were grown; there was a boot-making shop where all the footwear for the institution was made; and blacksmithing, laundry work, and general gardening were other tasks which engaged the time and attention of a number of boys. The latest industry to be established at the Borstal was a bookbinding unit, and much good work had already been done for the public library.

Mr Mathew said that he encouraged recreation, and at every opportunity in the summer evenings the boys took part in sports and games; drill classes were arranged, and singing, art and sign writing classes also had a good following. Boys who had been in the Borstal for some time were allowed special recreational facilities three nights of each week, and were called the intermediate class.

An association class with boys who were ready for release allowed them recreation every night’in the week, with no official present. The reason for that concession was to endeavour to cultivate a sense of responsibilty and the boys responded very well. Mr Mathew said he liked to run the institution more on a system of trust than by hard/officialdom, and his efforts were achieving success. By mentioning all the good things, he said he did not want it to be thought that the Borstal was a bed of roses.

The boys had to work hard, they were confined to the extent that they were under supervision all the time, and they had to be put under lock ,and key every night. The speaker said he impressed on the boys that escaping was not a brave thing but cowardice, and that if any of them escaped it re-acted adversely on all the other inmates.