BOYS' INSTITUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6

BOYS' INSTITUTE

ANNUAL MEETING ADDRESS BY THE HON. J- A. HANAN. Tho twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Wellington Boys' Institute and S. A. Rhodes' Home for Boys was held last night, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister for Edncation, presiding over a good attendance of subscribers nud friends. Mr Hanan said that he had every reason to recognise the institution as one that was doing good service to the S>tate. (Applause.) He congratulated them en the very good work that ttiey were doing, ho was glad to notice from the list ot members that they had among themin number of young people between the ages of U and 18 years, the period which was the most critical period of lite, the most dangerous period, and had often been referred to as "the silly age. it was unfortunate that in this country, as in many countries, we had not as part .if oar educat-.on system compulsory education beyond the primary school age. To his mind, it was national folly to release boys and girls from guidance and control nt the age of-14, when discipline and guidance were most needful, end when young people were most susceptible to evil influences. In the interests ot moral, social, and intellectual elevation of tire nice, it was essential that the State should take control ot the young people between these ages for their own good and for that of the Stfcte. (Applause.) According to the investigations made by Professor Barry, it would appear that the greatest improvement in the weight and power of the brain took place between U and 18 years of age. i'hat' pointed to the need tor continued education; and he hoped that _ puoiio opinion would be so educated in this country and In all countries that they would recognise tha value of carrying on education beyond 14 years of age. (Applause.) "DEBASING" PICTURES.

Their institute was a powerful sntidote to the street and to the dangerous influences associated with street Me. The young fellows who came to the institute had all its benefits—physical, mental, moral, and social—offered to them. He was glad to know that so many young people took advantage of the institution, and he hoped that it would go en «nd.. prosper. (Applause.) He regretted to sav. that-he was constantly receiving complaints with reference to the character of some of the pictures screened m various parts of New Zealand, which were regarded as of a debasing tendenay. There was no doubt that such pictures exercised a bad influence on juvenile minds, and that they could not but lead to some extent, so far as ,»ome young people were concerned, to moral wreckage. They all recognised that pictures •could be of an educational and beneficial character; but pictures which had a harmful effect must receive the condemnation of all right-thinking people. (Applause.) Recently ho had brought before his colleague, the Minister 'for Internal ASairs, the need for a closer censorship of some of the' pictures. (Applause.) There was a suggestivencss aoout some of them that must have a bad "effect on ~ young" minds. He hoped that his colleague would bo with him in having these reforms brought about. (Applause.) . CHILD WORKERS.

He regretted that in this and other cities many young people were working .such hours before and after school as must have a harmful effect on thijir education. (Applause.) He horded that legislation would be introduced next sessioh 'to deal not only with the question of juvenile labour but also with the too frequenj; attendance of young people at pictures"' of an evening' without parental control .or caro. (Applause.) He thought it was a disgrace to any State ifco allow young people to be out unattended at the aza .at picture shows and. other places of entertainment. (Applause.) It was well said that civilisation waits upon the young, and he was satisfied that the country which devoted the greatest attention to developing the : physical, mental, and moral faculties of the young would be the country which would attain pre-eminence _ among nations and the highest civilisation. (Applause.) The Peace Conference was now seeking to establish a. permanent peace; but if they were to bring about lasting peace they must see to it that the young people of the'Bmpire and of other countries received that mental and moral training which would enable them to put into practice in the government of their countries those principles of democracy. right, and justice which were essential to the maintenance of peace. (Apulanse.) He hoped that In this country, and in other countries, when the elections took place the question of child welfare would be givpn a foremost "position in every political platform. CFophear.) He hoped that they- would be united in doing their best to develop those agencies which went in the direction of making the'best of our young people. J (Applause.) If there ever was a time when we should endeavour to do all we could for the benefit of our young people—for their physical, mental, moral and social development—that time was now, because of the great wastage that had taken <place during the war. (Applause.) - "THB TREMENDOUS NEED."

Mr Troup, in moving 'the adoption of th« annual report (already published) thanked Mr Hanan for his kind reference to himself. His part in the work, however, had. he said, been a very small one. indeed. He had the strongest committee of anv district in the city behind him. besides the Ladies' Auxiliary; and it v.-as to the committee, to the Ladies "Auxiliary, and to the voluntary workers, who attended night after night and worked like Troians, that the great part of tho credit was due. (Applause.) He hoped,that the incoming committee wouia take up a matter, which had been referred to last year, but had been left in abeyance because of tho war—the tremendous need for more accommodation for boarding boys in, this city. He had had parents come from as far away as the Bay of Islands asking the institute to provide boarding accommodation for their boys. Tho institute now catered specially for boys getting small salaries, and took them in at Ms per week; but, for want of accommodation, they had to bar those receiving larger salaries. Parents, however.'wanted them to provide board and lodging for boys getting higher salaries. . One man had told him that ho had .tramped tho city for hours trying to find suitable board and lodging for his boy, so that he could tell his wife that ho had got a respectable place for him: but in vain. Tho Y.M.C.A. was full up. and he could not find any other place that could take him in. The need -was (treat, said Mr Troup; and ho thought that the committee should take their faith—in .their - hands during the coming vear»and go forward. (Applause.) Thev had taken tho adioning section. and -he thought that they should build [there .accommodation for day boys and turn the presoD.t building into a boarding establishment. (Applause.) ; The'motion wns seconded by Mr :'tnrle, supported by Mr Peter Fraser, if P., and. carried unanimously. Mr Hanan wid that *ho work of r V tending tho-.institution was one that

should commend itself to the whole of the people, and lie hoped that tnty would bo ns irenor.Mi& in helping an t!.o extension as thev had been in meeung tho other needs of the institution. _ On behalf of Ibo central commit'os, Mr C. S. Moore expressed the .'bf-'-s due to tho lady helpers, especii.iy to the Ladies' Auxiliary, for the Kieat help siven durinc the vear. and moved I Mat a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the ladies for their work. The vote was carried bv acclamation Replying on behalf of ,lhe ladies. Mrs G. E. Brown, secretary to the Ladies Auxiliary, paid n lush tribute to the Keneral committee, which she said had worked very harmoniously v(ith yho auxiliary. She heartily thanked them on behalf of tho ladies' executive.. (ApOn° the motion of Mr L. T. Watkins, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho old bovs of the institute and also to tho instructors and coachers. Thesf. said MrWatkins, were principally old boys; and he thought that that fact in itself spoke volumes for the Rood influence exercised by the institute. (Applause.) On tho motion of Mr G. E. Brown, hon. secretary, a hearty vote of thanks to the director (Captain J. ColvilleCookl and the matron (Mrs ColvUle-Cook) was carried by acclamation; and general recrret was expressed that they were leaving the institution \ heartv vote of thanks to Mr Hanan, on 'the motion of Mr Troup, and the sincine of th? National Anthem closed the proceedings.