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Stealing is principally to satisfy the craving for pictures, eatables, sweets, &c., and sometimes to take long railway journeys by children grouped together without moral restraint, seeking an outlet for their feelings against the least line of resistance.

When you have had indicated why the boy steals, why he degenerates, then turn his misapplication of the cause of his degeneration, and cure him by some counter attraction. There is no evil indicated here. It is loose control or want of control.

In Manchester we have some fine material in the way of boys' clubs and other institutions, and we could do with as many again. What the boy lacks at home in the form of corrective instruction he will not obtain by running rough shod in the streets. By clubs and institutions it is possible to link up boys to places of worship, and also to continue their education in the form of recreation. The fostering of aspirations and ambitions can be stirred to a vast degree when the boy or girl realizes that he or she counts as an individual. Instead of mischievousness and purloining, the boy can be brought to see that he can obtain by easy and safe means all that is dear to the boy's heart in the way of knives, flash-lamps, whistles, watches, books of adventure and travel, thus replacing the Buffalo Bill type of literature. Quick to reason, the boy will cast aside the counterfeit and take on the real, and strive to be a gentleman and a brave man instead of imitating outlaws of the Far West.

We have up to the present made serious errors and shown a lack of interest in the child of the streets. The so-called problem of obtaining workers is not a problem at all. It is a matter of a simple character, and hundreds of workers would be forthcoming if an effective and interesting programme could be evolved.

I want to direct attention to the influence of pawnshops on juvenile delinquency. We should do well to increase the age at which children are allowed to offer pledges at pawnshops, or to be allowed to carry pledges thereto. Fourteen is the legal age, but it would be more satisfactory to have the age increased to 16 years. It does not assist the child to be continually in the environs of such a place as a pawnshop. I am aware that many persons are forced to use these resorts. The greater majority are there only as a result of their evil courses. The habit of pawning, raising money by easy means, becomes fostered in the daily life of the child, and is conducing to habits of laziness and thriftlessness. Generally speaking, the habits of those who frequent the pawnshop are bad. It is false policy that the evils should

be carried forward to the child for want of a little preventative legislation. Where a child has no knowledge of a pawnshop, it would require the greatest inducement for such a child to overcome his sense of shame and enter one. Unfortunately it is with those used to this business that self-respect is not found, for the simple reason that it was never possessed, and because not possessed can never be missed. I suggest for the winter months in such a city as Manchester that the boys and girls should be given nightly opportunities of visiting the places of interest in the city and environs.

Children in my view who have committed offences and are under the age of 16 years might with advantage be detained at Remand Homes or shelters immediately they have been charged at a policestation. A period of forty-eight hours would suffice for a thorough inquiry to be made regarding each home and its surroundings and the habit of the parents. During the period of detention valuable evidence could be accumulated, carefully noted, and passed to the magistrates for their information. The school master or mistress, who should know the temperament of the child better than any person outside his home, should be consulted. The teacher should be able to give the court observations regarding the degree of mental intelligence possessed by the delinquent.

The child who has the advantages of having his case laid before the court by trained, but yet strictly impartial persons, would be in a more fortunate situation than a boy who stands charged at a policecourt to-day. He would feel his position and be acutely impressed with the seriousness of his surroundings. He would learn to place a higher value on his schoolmaster. He would regard him in another light to that which he does now, whatever the result of his trial was, and I think it is safe to say that feelings of overawe and bewilderment, so often seen expressed on the face of the child in a court of law, so typical of helplessness and inability to understand and appreciate the position, would be entirely absent.

I have gone into the returns for several years of juveniles brought before the police-courts of Manchester, with the result that I find that there is practically one-third of the juvenile delinquents taken before the courts and either fined or discharged in each year. It could therefore be safely assumed that at least this number might have been with advantage brought before a specially composed body, who should have the power either to pass juveniles on to a policecourt, or discharge, or otherwise deal with them. In such event there

would not be any police-court taint. Police-courts have not proved a definite deterrent to juvenile delinquency. We are bound to admit that. It does savour of something wanting, because we are now immediately concerned with child delinquency, or juvenile crime, paradoxical in the sense as we use them to-day. Such words should be relegated to the past and have no place in the present or future.

Let us examine a case briefly from a practical point of view. A boy is charged with breaking and entering premises. premises. He was probably with others, and the stolen property is found concealed at his home. He has not disposed of it, nor has it proved of use to him, nor does he feel that he wants it. This case is one of sheer mischievousness. There existed no criminal intent to steal as we know it. The boy before the magistrate is certainly frightened. He knows he has done something wrong, but the magnitude of the crime is not realized. The parents, from what I have seen of the majority, are not too greatly concerned. The part which concerns the mother chiefly is the interference with her own work. Is the boy capable of explaining the reason why he broke into these premises? I think not. Are the surroundings of such a character as to inspire him with confidence? I think not. For the time being he is overawed and subdued. He is asked in the course of evidence whether he has witnesses to call, or if he will be tried to-day or go before a jury.

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This is how the law acts. We have established our Juvenile Courts, but have we made juveniles understand the meaning of such terms as witnesses or trial before a jury? Do we seriously expect children to understand this judicial language? The juvenile so charged, for aught the court knows to the contrary, may have an answer to that charge; may be able to show that he is not so guilty as he appears. Who is there to show these facts to the court? there an advocate? As a rule, no. The mother often attempts something in this line, but she lacks knowledge of the laws of evidence, or is deficient in concentration of mind regarding the point before her, and is generally useless for the purpose. Magistrates do not always allow for extenuating circumstances or the influence of the child's feelings. I have no doubt that the system that I have advocated would prove of the most beneficial interest to the boy and of incalculable assistance to the justices. The composition of a specially selected body to try juvenile offenders might with advantage be considered. Clergymen of the district might be appointed, local police officials of high standing, headmasters of schools and local social

workers. The child's class master should also have an opportunity of attending to give evidence of intelligence or weakness displayed. From all this, it is clear how advantageous it would be for children to be linked up with societies, organizations and parishes, where there would always be available moral forces preventing the degeneracy of children. Systematic and sustained must be our efforts, for spasmodic and fitful experiments are foredoomed to failure.

The children who demand help are of necessity compelled oftentimes to reside in districts where the livelihood of the parents is obtained. We may police the streets of our cities, and provide armies of the most zealous workers, but we shall fail to cope with the child unless there is awakened the responsive cord of individuality and interest. Women of pure heart and mind, noble in purpose, have applied themselves to the battle for the purity and regeneration of their sex. They have witnessed first hand the throes of the unfortunate class, and studied the cause of secret drinking and the desire for excitement, and to-day we have a noble army of women social reformers, doctors and purity crusaders in every city of any importance to combat evils that have arisen around us. We have allowed the question of the children to sink to the line of the demarcation of national safety for the future. The manner in which it is now thrust forward at all points shows the urgency of measures to counteract boyish delinquencey on a sound practical basis.

Children must be treated as children. Their minds and feelings need analysing, classifying and grooving into the desired channel. Close personal acquaintance and a warm human interest will succeed. By sheer will-force and power children are drawn from the evils around them. The closing of the school door should not shut out the personality and individuality of the schoolmaster: the old order changeth, giving place to the new. The man of personal touch, the man of influence, the character moulder, the future citizen maker, was in the past the Sunday School superintendent and day school master. We all knew him, his force and example, his excellence in his vocation was his making it a labour of love. To the children he was at once their greatest friend and sternest disciplinarian. By the parents he was esteemed and honoured, and whole-heartedly trusted with the training of their children. His was the task, and to him the accomplishment was a sacred duty; not for the expectation of thanks did he labour, but for that day when men and women, though he had passed to the great majority, should turn and think: He gave me the foundation that has made me what I am.

To-day the foundation of the Sunday School and day school training, the bedrock of future character, must be brought back and given its place in the children's lives. Home life instruction, precept and example are the open secrets by which the child should be trained to the battle of life and develop Christian character.

Chief Constable's Office,

Town Hall,

Manchester.

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