230 THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. 



years there, where they may ultimately become of some benefit to^ 

 the Empire, as at the end of the five years they would under cer- 

 tain conditions be drafted into the Navy. 



I believe that if these suggestions were adopted, we would 

 strike at the very roots of the monstrous growth which produces 

 criminals ; convicts were all children once ; how far the want of a 

 friendly hand, wrong- m.ethods, lack of sympathy, undue harsh- 

 ness and bad environment are responsible for their becoming a 

 burden to the State it is impossible to gauge accurately. I may 

 be considered as Utopian when I state that it is my profound con- 

 viction that no boy, whatever may have been his hereditary ten- 

 dencies, is bound to become a criminal if he is caught young. 



When perhaps he first falls, he may, can and should be curci 

 of his unfortunate inheritance and made a useful member of the 

 community and an asset to the country of his birth, as God meant 

 him to be. It is the bounden duty of a State calling itself Chris- 

 tian to see that every child gets every possible chance to fulfil his 

 Divine destiny. 



TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES. 



Chemical, Metallurgical, and Minixg Sociltv of Solth Africa.— 

 Saturday, January 17th. : Dr. J. Moir, M.A., F.C.S , President, in the chair. — 

 "Stationary amalgam plates in tube mill plants": W. R. Dowling. A 

 record of experiments conducted during a period of two months in regard tO' 

 the substitution of stationary for shaking amalgamating plates, resulting in ait 

 increase in gold extraction by the tube mills amounting to over l% of the 

 screen assay value.- "The world's glycerine supply " : W. Culien. Remarks 

 on the impending serious shortage of glycerine, consequent on the increasing 

 consumption of explosives, resulting in augmented cost of the latter. The 

 imperative need of experiment with a view to finding an effective substitute 

 for blasting gelatine was urged. — "A grinding machine for zinc-cutting 

 tools " : H. Brazier. The author described his adaptation of a Liddell zinc- 

 lathe as introduced by him at the Crown Deep extractor house. — " Native 

 food supplies and their quality " : F. W. Watson. Results of analyses of 

 maize, imported flour, pea nuts, jugo beans, and cocoa were furnished an 1 

 commented on. — " The mine dust problem " : Dr. J. L. Aymard. The author 

 discussed the ventilation of drives and the diffusion of foul air, and spoke of 

 the medical aspect of the dust question, referring in particular to the pro- 

 duction, prevention, and destruction of mine dust, the lighting of fuses, and 

 the failure of water supplies. 



South African Institute of Engineers.— Saturday, January 21st 

 J. A. Vaughan, President, in the Chair. — " The Kimberley system of handling 

 large qxiantities of ground in the minimum of time; with notes regarding the 

 life of wire ropes": A. F. Williams. The author gave a detailed description 

 of the plant in use on the Kimberley Diamond Mines, and explained the 

 various systems of working, illustrated by tabulated working results extend- 

 ing over a period of several years. 



