TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8314, 1 March 1912, Page 6

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

It is pleasing to observe that Australian statesmen are following the New Zealand plan of treating criminals firmly yet helpfully, instead of imitating the "coddling" methods that find favour m the United States. Some sensible remarks were mad© m this connection a few days ago by Mr Murray, Premier of Victoria, m reply to a deputation that was pleading for more lenient treatment of prisoners. It is no doubt true, as the spokesman of the deputation said, that " giving a man a ration of lib. of bread and some water, even though he had a Bible to himself, would not have a reforming influence;" but Mr Murray was not to be misled by vague sentiment. He said there was a lot of mawkish humanitarianisin talked about the treatment of prisoners. Some people had the idea that they should receive a sort of rosewater treatment. This had been tried m America, but had proved a failure m every case. However, there was a class of men who accidentally came into fccuch with crime. With the aid of the ■Intermediate Sentences Act and prison farms these men might be prevented from becoming habitual criminals. The Intermediate Sentences Act was now m force, and the Government was endeavouring to establish a farm. It had been suggested that prisoners should be set to do public work that would not otherwise be done! That was a good idea, but the prisoners would probably want some inducement. Further, there were not * many prisoners available for that work. ■'Not .so very long ago there were over '2,000 prisoners at Pentridge. Now ' there were only 800. Nevertheless, of all mon the worst to leave idle was the man criminally inclined. " I think our friends m gaol should be made to hustle a bit," said Mr Murray.