11—20!

6. Work still continues to be plentiful and wages high. Nevertheless the incidence of crimes involving dishonesty continues at about the same high percentage, thus indicating that the basic trouble is not economic, but is due rather to the standard of spiritual values. Generally it may be said that it is the exception to find that such offences were committed by men out of work. The fact that employment is so easily obtainable does tend to cause young men particularly to leave their jobs and have periodic times of unemployment between positions. Relations between police, Courts, Prisoners' Aid Society, and others whose activities impinge upon our work continue to be harmonious and co-operative. Mr. R. Watt, Probation Officer, Wellington 1. Probationers Released Under the Offenders Probation Act, 1920. —(a) The year commenced with 201 reporting under this heading. During the year 247 were released on probation by the Courts and, together with 121 received on transfer or taken on the register, made a total dealt with of 569. During the same period 129 were discharged, 120 were transferred to other districts, 10 were imprisoned, 9 were dealt with on the original charges, 14 left the country by arrangement, and 7 absconded and remain untraced, leaving 280 reporting at the end of the period. (b) The increase in offender probationers may be largely accounted for by the fact that early in the year a large number were released on probation following conviction for ship-desertion ; the majority of these, youths and young men for the most part, have proved satisfactory, many are reasonably well established, and the proportion of failures has been little more than the average. (c) It is felt that in the main the response of probationers reporting under this heading has been satisfactory, and in many cases encouraging. The growing number, reporting and discharged, known to be well established, largely by their own efforts, testifies to the usefulness of the probation system, which provides the opportunity for self-rehabilitation without the inevitable difficulties associated with imprisonment, difficulties that are often only too real following release from an institution. (d) The total amount recovered by way of costs of prosecution and restitution shows a substantial increase. Included in the amount is a large sum collected from those who deserted ships and who were required to reimburse shipping companies. There have been larger Court orders, but generally response in this connection has been good and is fairly reflected in the total amount collected, £3,224 12s. 9d., which includes £192 costs of prosecution. 2. Probationers Released from Prisons and Borstals.—(a) Those reporting under this heading often represent a different problem and response is sometimes more difficult to encourage. On the whole, it is felt that response has been reasonably good, and in many instances it has been encouraging to note a respect for authority and a willingness to act on advice. (b) The year commenced with 50 reporting under this heading ; 103 were received from institutions and, together with 29 received on transfer, made a total dealt with of 182. Of that number, 57 were discharged, 40 were transferred to other districts, 4 left the country by consent, 14 were imprisoned for subsequent offences, 2 probationary licences were cancelled, and 3 absconded and were not traced during the period, leaving 62 reporting at the end of the year. 3. General.—(a) The fact that 438 written reports were submitted to the Courts during the year will indicate the limited time that has been available for close personal supervision, apart from accepting reports in person at the office. For the most part, probationers are youths or young men, a group among whom one could spend much time. The lack of industrious, regular habits, constructive associations, and generally a sense of values

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