WERAROA FARM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 4

WERAROA FARM

TRAINING OF BOYS

REORGANISATION UNDER

WAY

j The intention of the Government to erect new buildings at the Weraroa , Training Farm and to transform the institution into a school providing a wide range of cultural, technical, and • occupational training was announced 'by the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives today in reply to a question asked by Mr. W. J. Broadfpot (Nki tional, Waitomo) regarding the recent escapes of boys from the farm.

I "The problem of boys absconding ' from Weraroa is not a new one," said Mr. Fraser. "Indeed, the position >s

much better now than it has been in the past. For the eleven years 1925 to 1935. with an average of 86 boys vi residence, there were, on the average;' 56 abscondings per year. For the three and a half years 1936 to June 30, 1939, with an average of 56 boys in residence, abscondings occurred at the rate of 27 per year. In 1930 there were 72 abscondings; in 1931, 97; and in 1932, 119. In 1936 there were 18 abscondings; in 1937, 21; in 1938, 33; and for the first half of this year 23 abscondings involving fifteen individual ,boys

The problem of the delinquent child is recognised everywhere as a very difficult one, and has to be approached in a variety of ways, one of which, institutional control, unfortunately <s still necessary. Although largely superseded by other preferable modern methods of promoting the welfare of delinquent children, who are generally unfortunate in many respects rather than incorrigible, the institutional system is still essential in a modified and improved form. It is intended to transform the training farm into a school providing a ; wide range of cultural, technical, and occupational training, including agriculture for the boys. The present buildings, which have been obsolete for years, are quite unsuitable even for their present function, far less for the new purpose indicated. Accordingly, new'buildings have been planned for Weraroa.

These, together with the reorganisation of the staff, which is proceeding, should enable the whole character .if the institution to be dhanged in conformity with enlightened practice, tn the meantime every possible step is being taken to prevent the absconding of boys from Weraroa and the subsequent damage to the property of the people of the district, which too frequently has followed those abscondings in the past."