REFORM FROM WITHIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1481, 2 July 1912, Page 4

REFORM FROM WITHIN.

EUGENICS SOCIETY LECTURE. \ "A lecture was delivered by Professor T. A. Hunter last night to tho members of tho Wellington Eugenics Education Society. Professor Kirk presided. Professor Hunter intimated at tho outBet that he proposed in his lecture- to outlino and discuss tho principles and methods adopted by tho Georgo Junior Republic in the work of social reform. It wos an attempt, he said, to cll'ect reform in character by change of environment. This republic is a small community of boys and young men, established by Mr. AV. E. Gcorgo for tho reformative treatment of its citizens. Tho methods adopted for reform aro distinctly novel. I'W his purpose Mr. George acquired tomo 300 acres of farm laud in tho State of New York, with {.ho object of founding thereon an industrial colony of boys and youths. Ho was granted a charter by tho SUto Legislature, and the Stale law docs not run in the republic. 'The republic has its own laws, and they aro niado under the most democratic constitution possible by tiro boy citizens themselves. To become a citizen, a boy must huvo lived in tho colony one year, tho minimum age of admission being li years, and no man or woman over tho ago of 21 can have a. vole. By this means tho promoter hoped to engender a spirit, of self-reliance, and to educate the uoys for wider citizenship by much the same influences as they would meet with in the big TJnitod Slates Republic. It may bo explained at once that tlie cardinal ruin of the community , is: "Nothing without work," and tlio boy legislators, boy judges, and boy jurors, uphold Ihe Tulo sternly. They bavo laws to deal with vagrancy by imprisonment, and as the gaol is by no moans a eomforla.blo place, the incentive to work is a, strong one. Tho republic has been in existence for 17 years now, and no 'departure from the original plan has yet been found necessary. Ordinarily there are about IRO citizens in the, republic, in addition to tho instructors and helper* who aro over tho ago limit. Tho colony is recognised as a charity, and it is simimrted b>- 'voluntary contributions. Although tho boys entering it,are, many of thein, committed from Courts for offences more or less serious, the results of tho reformative treatment have, says Dr. llunt-r, been remarkably aood, for of smut- 500 boys who have left the institution with its luill-iimrk upon them, only one bus subsequently come to crief. A few havo achieved real distinction UIS students in Cornell University.

•Such nil , : the intrres+ini? mid novel instilutiou decribed nml di?cus."od by the lecturer. Tiro dowription was aided In' a seriei of ina»ic-lanteni views. Incidondilly. Dr. Hunter discussed engeni'.'-s ami wieiiil reform irenr-M'lv.

On (ho motion of Dr. Mnwn the audience acrordod (ho lecturer a hearty vofo of thanks.