PARLIAMENTARY

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3391, 13 June 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

/FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER)

WELLINGTON, this day. 1 HOSP ITAI- AND CHARITABLE AID I This Bill has not yet beeu circulated, but II i have been able to procure the substance as I i-fXe case last year, but it provides for the I Vision of the colony into hospital and I hiilabl9 aid districts, for bringing the I t snitalsandcharitable institutions underan iS. lor fixing the local grants in aid, for def .mining the proportionate contribution by ,1_ bodies, and by private subscribers, and . \ (,(gUb'ishing boards of management till '? 9 tbinas are authorised to be done by *rL__in Council. Local bodies and subI ,rtbert* re t0 aye vote 3*v tlle election of m IW*60 * Management, according to conations, five votes being the maximum II ii» 0/casc* There are provisions for retireA j(jt of (members, constitution of new B $ricts, establishment of branch hospitals' ''ii j charitable relief (both in-door and outI fit). Boards are to be empowered to 1 ipoint and remove all necessary medical lifieers, secretaries, nurses, attendants, and Jisistants, and to pay salaries out W.( funds, and to make contracts by 3 tender where the amount exceeds £20, [to acquire and hold real and personal ■ property, to leave lands under certain restrictions, to make bye-laws, to sue and !be sued, members not being personally re.ponsible. Persons receiving relief are to oe liable for the same as a debt if they ihould be in a position to day it. The Hospital and charitable aid fund is to congist of Parliamentary grants, contributions from bodies, private donations and subscriptions, rents and prcfits of land or other property vested in Jjßoards, and all other wrongs received under Act. It is provided __,jt oat of any sums appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, there " may : je paid a subsidy of £1 per £1 received w 8 Board in the shape of J grants for local bodies, subscriptions, donation*, or receipt _* Board other than the proceeds of land „id endowments, but the subsidy is in no o ,e to exceed halt _the_ annual net cost of maintenance of the institution. Contributions in arrcar may be recovered as debts, _ud local bodies may either pay their conjnbntions out of their ordinary revenue, or Hike a special rate, or levy a poll-tax. Inspection of all institutions is provided for. Here is a " special provision " that the Governor-in-Council may vest the control of my hospital or charitable institution iv a lolantarv association of persons, who shall jjjnify their willingness to undertake the jjjrge. Such association thereupon being tod on tbe same footing as to subsidies. j_£as a Board elected iv the usual way, bntwbject to such special terms as may be imposed by order in Council. BEPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS.

ICiiMisHoMe, losp3Ctorot Prisons, presented _]_ report In Parliament yesterday. He says»lt_j chief evils that havo come under my udaare that prisons as they at present exist JiJeither deterrent nor reformatory. I cou- _______ this mainly due to the absence ot any -jam of classification, owing to tha very ___i__d accommodation in moat prisons, aud I «nMt too urgently imprea* upon the Govern„j_t tbe necessity for at once enlarging the __(__ gaols to admit of thia claasificidon. There Mild be one large central prison capable ot accomodating three hundred prisoners, to ,____t all male offenders sentenced to penal uritade should, on conviction, be sent, and a kept entirely separata from hard-labour ■timers daring the whole period ot their jjritade. District prison* should be larpc {Hugh to accommodate eich iv a separate cell. ; Jljrisonera sentenced to hard labour, debtors, muds awaiting trial, and youth 3. These ooneH aaould have their metis in tbe cells. Bite kept quite separate except when on nrla at exeroise, or Divine snrvice. In tie ajjanir ayßtem prisoners have their meala and •end their span time in associations most (jtdmental to prison discipline. Washing and ___Mii_rarr&ngements in most prisons require jpnmnif, and in some I found they had no ■Wis of welghlog prisoners. I need hardly rait out it id most necessary that every prisoner donld be weighed on reception and the record __Ids weight kept. Further that he should b_ wftUwdly weighed In order to test whether he _*_____£ orgainlng flesh. The foregoing apply msDy to female as well as male prisoners jjprMmera should be liable to undergo perual correction for prison offences, but as the jnrioir stands corporal punishment can only {a Inflicted for repeated prison offences. A (§___ BiOBJ assault by a prisoner on an officer, for lain 03M. Is a case in which corporal punishment HBtaold Invariably be resorted to, eubjeut always Hfl tf coarse, to the medical officer's opinion as to HltoiltMaa of the offender to receive it,<andif HI ti law in this respect is not altered 1 fear i,'ami. results. I would also recommend the ______ feci rod be introduced into prisons, it baring ]__}_■ ten(crand that birching, whilst being a safer Banishment than flogging—at the same time jjjgj if, placing recipients on the footing of ______jiKlllS a humiliating efftct, and is therefore M torea t and a valuable addition to the cat aa a sM bib of punishment. Tbe system of trying toHHiiats children I believe to be a mis mß"__', Assembling prisoners together for ■tmoaes of school tends to great irregularity. BBlttn . to reason that a man who he., verv§ timed & day's shotted task of hard labour can- ?,§ art. jxsßUj benefit by attending school in HnW- 1 therefore recommend that school•Mtei- tri_-D3 be'abolished, but teaching of Mpoaw trades is a subject that cannot have ______$$'BMh attention- Kvery prisoner not too IjndlkNld have every facility afforded him to ■uoitrade during the term of imprisonment KSJiiraby he onght to be enabled to earn an EH tat living on being discharged from prison. ■T-afinißllS Bhould, in prison, be divided into 99 In as follows :-I. Old habitual criminals, - i.a (have several previous convictions against HB Mi, Those against whom no former conj _m Is known. 3. Yontbs, boys 16 years old '. J binder, i. Those under remand awaiting ■■Mis, Debtors, etc. Each of tha aboveIgB&oed classes being kept separate, both on jg rat, aerobe and when in prison, to encoar jMmjwipriaon conduct. I recomaend that a Hlptwwwntenced to hard labour or simply imr.'| prtjoamrat; be requir.-d to pass through tho Bwi. classes: — Probation: Third and .jateo. Classes, after which they shall be M cujUbfor promotion to First Clas3, one fourth gg title (hole sentence being passed in each of gS. to-named Classes and penal servitude. IHlhtaffliwiihlong sentences ehonld be required I .iaSueUttoairh one year in probation, one in the Kt_ns4oneSecond Classes, after which he wouldba MWNe tor promotion to the First Class; and as ISH I*Bfarther incentive to good conduct and In___H_Kr> day might for the last twelve months gailuirsentence ba promoted to a Special Class H||b present system of granting remission on ______B»m labour or simple imprisonment for aenHHwi of four months and upwards, is a gSJ&t error. It tends only to lessen the severity BB> nteaees, making them neither deterrent HBjJWrentlve. Remissions are not granted on gßjßieiiteiices either at Home o? in any of the W*. except New Zealand. I trust to see fit UHlttcottmend to the Government tho advisHfflHwof abolishing them, except In cases of Mgteerritude sentences. Prison diets in this 89*rjras too liberal. Prisoners, as a rule, _ggffl»prison heavier in weight than on recep«_a* This la not calculated to make prison places fSM'Mreaded; but at the same time it would ra|J)Jjrndent to alter any existing diet scales _________B__Sant assembling a Board of Medical afwwll Informed on the subject, to conS»j*jjio niatter and record an opinion. The ____■____* Mbaoa) in prison I cannot too firmly H_K*_i_fatro ngly urge that it bo disontinuad. jS3&*taß "Gaoler," should ba abolished, and IfflJWltendent" or " Controller" substituted. WXh, ie"a "Prisons "substituted for t hit (llioh," The syatem of gaolers being power.sSSi? I"uila'l either officers or prisoners is BHWiHid places them in a false position SWB'WIof. both officers and prisoners ; that they be given powers |U!*Umb.certain prison offences, submitting fflJKfjl*l my office a return showing tho full _ taiofall punishments awarded by them, Pflons offe .cc being referred to tho visiting ||§_?& <Jaolera on the whole appear to carry jjgyt- antlea in a generally satisfactory |K_* M"i,0tßomßby reason of age or infirmity BSJuwd their periods of efficiency and ■ESjrare. and considering the importance of S.fSJ™"! establishments I recommend that as ."'tsrP ooour superintendents of priaona !?Mlsleeted from retired Naval or MilipffiWceni of whom thero are many in the Sa v ?andanxious to accept such appoint;_fr*™fromßerrice, experience of dicipline, ': :i*™BKement of men. aro well calculated to WtJk aon both t0 tho Government and gsfiom they would have charge of. Anew .j/*r for all nrison officers is already subg™lMconsideration. Should that scale be J?™ 'he Government can procure naval and J.Tj°fflMw who have already served thoir WS& Wthfully, and who are again ready and iSla do win tbis department. ?üborj^raicers are too old and slovenly. In future £_.' Bmarter, more active men should be ' 'JK.I 'aD(I K'eatcrpains bo takon to necrry}m antecedents than haj been tholcustom *feS ore iV.Tll6 y should also be placed on the ■■%_!_, rou *or Promotion, and so be transferred i-iaoa to another, in no case ahould w be posted to his local prison. " a rule live too far.from.the prisons. «r might be profitably employed in 'ardors' quarters, thereby saving a >t allowance in lieu. Gaolers and 11 officers should be granted leavo he former of forty-two days, the _n days, with extra day in lien of "day. They should »lso have unlnoure. The duties in all prisons nderoneaet of standing orders for a the colony, prison duties being so oaotonous that annual leave becomes } necessity, and is calculated to give resh zeal and energy in the psrform- » duties. Matrons should not te ay prison officers. Particular prisons » occur should be filled with women education and standing, instead of _now hold the appointments. The »m of detaining prisoners for prison Jer their sentences have expired is Mnjbla and open much abuse. No I'd be nnder any circumstances kent ( wter the sentenoe awarded by tha . oajjiatrate has expired. It will be 0 hava the New Prisons Act brought .Uonse during the coming session, Uf Into the details as to sentences, • Powers of gaolers, punishments, made no allusion to visiting justice * iesln this report, but have carefully <™g ao in consequence of the Govern*™B leaned any order on the subject ■ny duties and status in reference to

l-WPkvi * ggu«noans are very much engrossed Mhii«LStlon of how and where they X* °emselves in the future. The Hu~ "aye been crowded until tbey R™ more crowding. Although HffiSß^ of thera. their limits are mm ♦ and the Prefect o£ the Seine Ay, l 0 overcome the repugnance of Iwi., ♦ railway funerals. His pio\W__7, ]. Khase a very handsome |S Mllea froD> the c'itv, and to KPfffe tor having all funerals P^hirfTfi er from a sPecial station, r*."»li«liv ,Tm>cession can be transV, y { °odlly from the cemetery.