PRISON GATE MISSION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 2

PRISON GATE MISSION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Christchurch Prison Gate Mission was held in the V.M.C.A. yesterday afternoon. Dean Carrington presiding over a good attendance. Tho 'fifty-sixth, annual report stated that if there was nothing of outstanding interest to record, the committee had the satisfaction of being able to report that the unobtrusive, but necessary, work at which tbe Mission aimed had been carried on without any waning enthusiasm on the part of the Association's executive officers-the official visitors—and with beneficial resultto at least some of the -unhappy persons for whose sake it exists. Jhatejrer might be the merit, or dements of the Dominion's prison system—and there were evidences that the public and the Legislature were awakening to a desire for reform—such an organisation as tho mission was an adjunct which should be of social and moral value, not only to the discharged prisoners thomselves, but to the community at large. It was surely in the common interest that at the moment a man was discliarged from prison and called upon to face tho world at a disadvantage, a helping hand should he held out to him aud an effort made to direct bis steps into the right path. Tbi- was tho main object of the Mission, and upon it its claim rested, not only for the sympathy, but for the liberality, of the public. On the men's side 38 discharged prisoners had received orders, for temporary board and lodging at the Salvation Army's institution, one was sent to the Sailors' Home, 5 had work to ro to, 14 were returned to their homes. 21 had friends prepared to receive them, 4 were shipped to sea, _6 were not in, need of help, having sufficient money, and 18 wero returned to the districts from which they were brought. Every endeavour was made to induce discharged prisoners to get work in the country, and to assist them, swags were provided. On the women's side the most important ©vent was the removal of the prison to Addington where space was abundant, and the surroundings were more cheerful. Mrs Harold Purchas, the lady visitor, had resigned owing to removal from Christchurch, and Misa Helen Rolleston was appointed in her place. The balance-sheet showed a balance to debit of £15 2s.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet Dean Carrington said that he had to confess that he knew littlo of the detail of the work done by the Mission, but he sympathised so much with it that he hoped to be brought in closer touch with it. It was work that affected tlio whole community, and the annual meeting should be of a more public j character. He had read a gooa deal about the ethics of punishment, and it always appeared to him that the whole question was in a muddle. There were too principal views: one that punishment is simply retaliation, the law having been broken had to be vindicated. That was one crude view of the matter held by a number of people. Others were more sentimental, and considered that the aim of the punishment was remedial. These people had a tendency to become too sentimental, and to take the part of tho criminal to too great an extent. In the United States when a man was sentenced to execution petitions from women generally were got up asking That he be reprieved. There waa a big danger in making pets of prisoners. Ho thought that both views were correct, but only the extreme portion of each theory was applied. He believed that punishment should be the vindication of the law: the absence of that view, in connexion with the up-

bringing'would; lead to evil results. But when a prisoner had served his sentence the Jaw had been vindicated and he should be received as clean and given every encouragement to lead an honest and a good life. The Dominion had an excellent police force and an excellent legal system, but when a man had served his sentence he found that he had dropped out of society. It was in this respect that Christianity failed and tho difficulty experienced by discharged prisoners to get honest work led to the-perpetuation of the criminal class. The community ought always to keep before it the necessity for justice being done and also tho view that when justice was done every effort should be mado to rehabilitate the man. He questioned whether the State would over take up the work of restoring discharged prisoners to a place in society which would allow them to be useful members of the community. There was no doubt about the importance of this work, but he thought that fpr a Jong while it would have to be done "by private effort. The problem" was an enormous one, and the Mission, which seemed to bo a small one, was doing pioneer work, ■ but he would like to 6ee more work done. If the Mission work though small was going forward satisfactorily it was receiving God's blessing, but it deserved a greater blessing from the community. It was God's work and work that the community at large would havo to take up. Mr John Jamieson seconded the motion, and stressed the point that punishraont by parents was followed by sympathy, and that was an important factor in punishment. He referred to the excellent work done by tho Mission, and said that prisoners on being discharged knew that they had a sym- ! pathetic friend in Mr T. I. Small, the secretary of the Mission. The motion was agreed to. Mr M. Woodfield moved that tbe following be the committee for suing year:—The Rev. Canon Coates, the Rev. J. Mackenzie, Mesdames Guise, Wilson, Sandstein, Misses Rolleston and Ollivier, Captain Marciel and Mr H. T>. Carter. Mr J. EL Stringer was re-elected hon. treasurer. The Rev. Job-. Mackenzie referred to the excellent work done by Mr Sinail, and said that the individual attention given to discharged prisonerwas the most important factor in the Mission's activities. He moved: "That this meeting desires to express its very hearty appreciation of the services rendered to the whole community by Mr Smail in his capacity of* agent of this Mission.''

Dean Carrington seconded, and said that it was only by personal influence and sympathy that the work of the Mission could be carried out successfully. Mr W. Broadhurst suggested the inclusion in the motion of tho names of the lady visitors —Mrs Harold Purchas and Miss Helen Rolleston.

This was agreed to, and tbe motion, was carried, and was followed bjr applause. Mr Smail briefly returned thanks, and tbe meeting closed.