PARKINSON CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 41, 17 February 1920, Page 5

PARKINSON CASE.

— « -** MINISTER AOTJ RELEASE. * MATTER FOR XE%V LEGISLATION". AUTHOEITY TO PRISON" BOARDS. In reply to the resolution passed at a recent public meeting in Auckland demanding the release of Alice Parkinson the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. g! Coates) has written to Mr. H. Woodroff, organiser of the Release Committee, a≤ follows:— "I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of t*e sth instant, in reference to the proposal to petition Hi» Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, in reference to the release of Alice Parkinson. In reply I have to inform you that I am unable to depart from the' decision of my predecessors in office, that there are no grounds to warrant a recommendation being forwarded t o His Excellency the Governor General lor l'arkinson , ! discharge from prison. While I cannot see my way to recommend His Excellency the Governor General to grant Parkinson a fuli and final discharge, I propose, during the coming session, to introduce legislation that, if passed, will allow this and similar cases to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Prisons Board. The question of releasing upon probation prisoners situated as Parkinson ;• will then be considered by the' Board, who will have full power to adjudicate upon the marter and recommend His Excellency tiw Governor General to release them on probation if they deem such action ■xdviable."'