BORSTAL MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1932, Page 15

BORSTAL MEETING

GOOD REPORTS RECEIVED

A meeting of the Women's Borstal Committee took place at the Dominion Farmers' Building yesterday afternoon, there being a good attendance of members, A. considerable amount of business had collected, as the committee' had been in recess since December, and the chairman (Mrs. M. H. ChatfieW, J.P.) read between, forty and fifty letters from probation :girls-and.'par-, ents, many written at Christmas time, to thank the committee for kindly remembrance.

The girls expressed appreciation of all that had been done for them while at the institution, both by the staff and by members of the committee, and several parents wrote expressing their pleasure at the improvement in their girls—they had not expected . sucll good results, and felt that the girls had been given a fresh chance an life, as they showed no inclination to return to former companions and ways, which had led them into trouble. They seemed, from the letters, altogether to have gained a definite ideal of good citizenship, which is taught at the institution.

Beports from associates of the committee emphasised the difficulties hi obtaining work for the girls. The names of some of the inmates had been forwarded to the Controller-General of Prisons (Mr. Dallard) asking for remission of sentences, and a reply was received.

Votes of thanks were passed to Her Excellency Lady Bledisloe for her gift of cakes at-Christmas; to the Justices' Association for kind assistance-" given towards several "objects for the lienefit of ' the / girls,: which, had '.been brought before them by the committee; to Mrs. Sprotfc and the branches of : the Mothers', Union for the provision of the delightful annual party on New Year's Day; to the secretary and members-of the Victoria College Social Service League, who had each month provided an excellent evening entertainment for the inmates; and to other kind entertainers. . ■ : .

Some arrangements were made for the annual meeting of the committee to take place at the end of March. A number of satisfactory progress reports were read of girls on probation, and further plans wore niade for some who will he leaving the institution shortly. Thanks were specially expressed to some ladies who had given clothing for girls who had no friends or relations, and who would otherwise have gone out very poorly provided.