PRISON DIET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 196, 19 August 1936, Page 10

PRISON DIET.

BORSTAL INSTITUTE.

GOOD FOOD FOR BOYS. ADEQUACY DEBATED. ,(Ey Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A discussion on the dietary in Borstal Institute at Invereargil!, which was initiated in the House of Representatives to-day by Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West), during consideration of the estimates of the Prisons Department, proceeded in lighter vein when it was suggested by Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) that the fare at that institution was as good as one could get in any reasonable hotel in the Dominion. • Dr. McMillan said that at tha Invercargill Borstal Institute dairy produce was produced, but in spite of that the boys were fed on bread and fat. He hoped the Minister would take s;eps to remove that relic of barbarism. Mr. Hargest said that the statement of Dr. McMillan required qualification. Some prisoners might get bread an 1 fat, but the boys at Invercargill were remarkably well fed. Drt McMillan: I'd rather have* butterfat. Mr. Hargest said he had visited the Borstal on many occasions and seen the boys served with their food. The class of food they got was as good and as well served as in any reasonable hotel in the Dominion.

"A home away from home," suggested Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, WaitbmoV. . Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) : Too attractive. The Minister of Lands (Mr. Lan<*stone): Are there toothpicks on the table? (Laughter.)

Mr. Hargest said he was as, keen as anyone to preserve the health of the inmates. ' -

The Minister in charge of Prisons, Mr. Mason,cSiriteirEed ■li]msSrf-"'wi?Tr u a "SSry brie/ reply. He said he Concurred with -what Mr. Hargest bad said in reference' to the rations of prisoners. He had made a point of visiting the prisons and paying particular attention to the food. The health of the prisoners seemed to be goon, and they seemed to thrive on the food they received.

Mr. J. A. Lee (Parliamentary UnderSecretary) said he hardly believed that the food in the prisons could be quite as as Mr. Hargest had suggested. Dr. McMillan said he had not stated that the .prisoners were under-nour-ished, but he considered their health would be improved by giving them butter instead of fat.

Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): Don't they get any butter at all ? > ?r >

Dr. McMillan : No, they'dqn't gcjt': any. •Mr. ,F. W, 'Schramm... (Ghpyei'nriient, Auckland East) Sai<J fye'icitiuld nofcunderstand why butter was hot gi'y&rto men in gaol simply i because they were in gaol, Why"should, a man for ever be penalised-;because ie had been in gaol? he asked." ' • "Some ,of,,the best':J}ien in the world had b'eeri in. gaolf'' he continued. '..• "I suppose sonie expert evidenpe' could be given by members of Cabinet.'' ......

The Minister of Labour, j Mr. Armstrong: A lot of crooks manage to keep out of gaol, Mr. Schramm: Fancy giving prisoners fat are, crying out for a ,guaranteed;iprice fo'| the} dairy farmer. He' added.; that : jsthß' prison system should be used for the purpose of reforming people, and that could not be done by making prisoners suffer.