PRISONERS' PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 15

PRISONERS' PAY.

FOUR MONTHS TO QUALIFY.

EXPLANATION" TO SOCIETY.

The statement, which he said had been made repeatedly by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Cobbe, that over £0000 was paid to men leaving prison, was referred to by the secretary and chaplain of the Auckland Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, Rev. G. E. Moreton, at the annual meeting at the Town Hall yesterday. What the Minister did not explain, he said, was that a man had to be in prison four months before ho was on marks, and what was to happen to the wives and children, he asked ? "I could show you distressing cases," said Mr. Moreton. "One mother, 'with seven (''children, and another child coming, had to confine herself. There have been several maternity cases and I have had to call in Mrs. Moreton and the Plunket Society." If it were not for the Charitable Aid Board, he said, these women would have a very bad time.

Jn the absence from town of the Mayor and deputy-Mayor, Mr. Arthur Rosser, as the oidest member of the City Council, presided. He said he deemed it a privilege to be present in view of the work which they were doing. Referring to the Government grant of £50, Mr. Rosser said he thought the society should be subsidised to a larger extent fr.ojn the Consolidated Fund.- A society such as theirs should not have to go round cap in hand. They were greatly impressed by the work which Mr. Moreton was doing all the year round. The following office-bearers were appointed': Patron, Archbishop Averill; president, the Mayor, Mri E. Davis; vice-presidents, Sir Alexander Herdman, Sir Cecil Leys,' Sir Henry Hortbn, Sir Walter Stringer, Mr. Justice Callan, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., Mr. W. E. Wilson, Mr. A. J. Stratford, Mr. F. W. Wilson; executive committee, Archbishop Averill (chairman), Rev. A. Astor, Rev. G. E. Moreton, Rev. J. E. Draper, Rev. A. Everill Orr, Rev. Thos.. Halliday, Rev. R. Stowards, W. H.-Whitelaw, G. F. Rennet, W. M. Rayner, J. W. Court, J/ W. Manning, W. Slaughter, L.' Armitage, Geo. C'r.uickshank, .W» H. MacLennaiiy Phil Hay ward; hon. solicitors, Messrs. B. E. Gold water, J. W. Manning, K. C.. Ackinsf-.Trevor Sparling, H. A. Steadman; hon. auditor, H. C. Robinson; hon. medical officers, Drs. W. Gillies Borrie, T. Harold Pettit, Neil McDougall.