NATIONAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 233, 1 October 1937, Page 10

NATIONAL COUNCIL.

CONFERENCE CONTINUED. BORSTAL SYSTEM REMITS. Continuing yesterday, the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Xational Council of Women dealt with a lnrge number of remits. The meeting took place in the Y.W.C.A. hall, the Dominion president, Miss D. E. Kirk, presiding. In the morning a report was presented by Miss Ellen Melville on the laws and legal position of women.

Remits concerning the law regarding habitual criminals were later taken. It was stated tliut the penal system of New Zealand was based on punishment rather than reformation. It was asked that a man should have not less than seven day's previous notice of intention to charge him by indictment with being an habitual criminal. This, it was explained, would give an accused person an opportunity to defend himself, not only against the charge contained in an indictment, but also against the charge of being nn habitual criminal. The remit liraed also that when the eases of habitual criminals were being reviewed by the Prisons Board, prisoners should be represented bv counsel. Tt was pointed out that for the year ended December 31, 1035. the Prisons Board, consisting of seven members, dealt with 1359 cases «t 14 meetings held at various institutions, each prisoner being allowed only between two and three minutes in which to state his case.

A remit pressing for provision to be made in the law for the inclusion of women on juries was unanimously adopted. Remits on Borstal. A certain amount of discussion took place on certain alleged anomalies in the New Zealand Borstal system, and many recommendations for improving the system were made. They were incorporated in remits framed by the Auckland branch, and 20 remits were passed.

The recommendations included: That Borstal institutions be removed from Prisons Department control; that no prison building or part of a prison building be used as a Borstal Institution; that superintendents and other officers employed under the Borstal Act be specially trained in the modern application of Borstal principles before appointment; that consideration be given to the wearing of plain clothes instead of uniform by officers: that at least two women, one of which is a trained nurse, be appointed to each Borstal institution; that special attention be given to a balanced end rational diet, and that psychological examination and treatment should be provided for the inmates. Tt was agreed that trades and occupations should be taught, with modern and up-to-date appliances, by qualified instructors, with a view to providing a means of livelihood on release. The suggestions also included, that care should be taken to prevent the mingling of Borstal Inmates with adult criminals, that discipline by means of solitary confinement be abolished, and that, punishment bv means of reduction in diet be discontinued. HARMONY GROUP. The Fabian Club rooms were filled to capacity this week, when the Harmony Group held its seventh musicale of the season. The guests were received by the president, Mr. G. G. Chambers, who was assisted by Mrs. P. Bloy. The programme was In the hands of Madame Humphrey - Steward, who arranged a "Japanese Night." The stage was decorated with cherry blossoms and Japanese lanterns, and with the gay kimonos of those taking part, it presented a colourful scene. Solos were given by Mesdanies Ivy Shaw, Maurice Meikle, Misses Berly Nettleton, Eileen Wainhouse and Messrs. James Ramsay, H. Natzke and Gordon Kessell. A short talk on one of the Japanese musical comedies was given by Miss Etliel Rae. The accompanist for the evening was Miss Dorothy Smith.