Police Youth Club Flourishes in Westport

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1948, Page 8

Police Youth Club Flourishes in Westport

[By G. Y. Birch) Based on similar lines to that in New South Wales, ’ a Police Youth Club flourishes in Westport, one of the smallest towns in New Zealand. Westport was, for many years, troubled by youth delinquency. As was the case with many other towns, no amenities existed for the youth of the district. They drifted into bad company, frequented hotels, and engaged in crime. Magistrates were always asking the police what could be done to keep the young men in happy and instructive occupations, and if there was some good club for them. There was no solution until two years ago. It was then that Constable H. Williams came to Westport from Wellington on transfer. His humane approach to the problems of youth in the Capital city was well-known, and at Westport, he found scope for putting into effect an idea he had long cherished —a Police Youth Club. He had heard a great deal of the amazingly effective results achieved by the N.S.W. Police Boys’ Club and his ambition was to start a similar organisation in Westport. In this respect he was encouraged by his senior, Sergeant T. Matthews. The latter had suffered many headaches in trying to evolve a scheme to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, and to give the youth of the town something to do with their spare time to keep them out of mischief. Constable Williams showed the way, and without further delay, members of the Westport Police Force formed a committee, and inaugurated the Westport Police Youth Club, the only one of its kind in the Dominion. Sergeant Matthews was elected president, Constable G. Taylor secretary, and Constable Williams treasurer. The Commissioner of Police (Mr. J. Cummings) gave the project his blessing, and the scheme was submitted to a public meeting in Westport. The idea gripped the imaginatffin of the citizens and the youth of the town, and on November 10, 1946, the project was launched. It was decided to admit boys between 12 and 18 years free of charge. The Education Department provided a room, and monetary assistance enabled the purchase of gymnasium equipment. ”’he Government promised a subsidy, but that, is yet. to come to hand. ' ■ FIRST IN DOMINION I In the two years of its existence, 1 the Club has more than proved its worth, and Westport is proud of the fact that it is the first place in the Dominion to seriously grapple with the problems of youth by providing means for their entertainment, and mental and physical well-being in their leisure hours. Sergeant Mathews tells me that in the last two years there has been a vast improvement in the behaviour of the youth of the town. Boys who appeared before the Court, are now members of the Club, and on the road to becoming worthy citizens. The membersnip to-day is 130. Juvenile cases before the Court had decreased considerably since the Club began operations, and applications for membership _ were being received daily. The police are in close touch with the schools, mines, offices and factories, so that boys and youths would know that they had somewhere to go other than the streets and hotels. “Our aim,” Sergeant Matthews informed me, “is to teach these youths to become reliable, honest citizens; to keep them off the streets and away from bad company; to give them a helping hand along the road of life, and to convince them that the policeman is their friend.” The boys, he said, were taught boxing, wrestling, table tennis, swimming, games and first aid. Good books were available, and advice on any subject was to be had for tne asking. At intervals, Sergeant Matthews addresses the youths on their conduct in the home, the school and on the streets. He teaches them how to assist the police in the event of calamaties as such as earthquakes, floods, shipwrecks, and as members of search parties. The success of the Club had been remarkable, and was well worth the extra labour involved. If the ycould turn out upright citizens, he considered that they would have been well repaid for anything they might have done in the matter. INCREASING MEMBERSHIP Sergeant Matthews said that among the many who had rendered valuable assistance in the activities of the Club were Jack Porter, former New Zealand boxing champion, and Artie Spencer, physical culture instructor attached to the Department of Internal Affairs. Increasing membership necessitated larger premises, and functions were now being held throughout the district to raise funds for this purpose. Sergeant Matthews said he would welcome information from the N.S.W. Police Boys’ Club, and other centres in New Zealand that sought to devise means for helping the youth of the day. He said he hoped Westport’s lead would be followed by other parts of the Dominion. Every city and town owed it. to the youth of the country to provide some decent entertainment and instruction, and to lower still further the yearly total of young delinquents.