PRISONERS' SENTENCES

A PLEA FOR, STANDARDISATION. (By Teleßreph,—Prees AsßooJatioß.) Auckland, April 11. At a meeting of the Discharged Prisoners' Society there was an interesting discussion on the inequality of the senteuoes passed upon offenders, especially those dealt with in the higher courts. Members present, some, of whom'have ha<l fifteen or twenty years' experience of prisons and prisoners, gave instances of the unequal treatment meted out to men now serving long sentences. The general desire expressed was not for milder or more lenient sentences, but rather for some sort of "standardisation of sentences." It was.pointed out that a very noticeable feature quite capable of proof was that much lighter sentences have been passed during the last two or two and a half years than formerly. As examples the following comparative instances were quoted, the older sentences appearing iiret in each case:—Shooting with intent to do.grievous bodily harm under great provocation and recommended to mercy by jury—ls' years. Shooting at father-in-law with intent, three months. Incest (two charges), 20 years. Incest (six charges), a shocking case, seven years. Burglary (first offence), seven years' hard labour and seven years' reformative treatment. Burglary (old offender and many charges), ten years' reformative treatment. Pickpockots, five years, threo years, and two years. Pickpockets, three months, six months, and twoi months. The secretary has already written to the Governor on tho question, and has also communicated with tho Justice Department.