OBITUARY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 42, 19 February 1944, Page 6

OBITUARY

REV. J. Ij. a. kayll The Rev. James Leslie Allan Kayll. vicar of Katikati, died yesterdav at Tauranga. Mr. Kayll was well-known throughout the Dominion for his work of prison reform. He was born in Auckland, and became interested in the study of criminology when appointed chaplain of the Auckland Prison. After sevan years' study in Turin and Washington, Mr. Kayll began a campaign for the reformation of the New Zealand prison system which was to result in his being appointed in 1909 adviser on prison reform matters by the Attorney-General, Sir John Findlay. While adviser, Mr. Kayll interviewed thousands of prisoners and sumbitted psycho-analvtical reports on his researches to ail members of the Prison Board established in 19.10. Mr. Kayll was prominent in the framing of the Crimes Amendment Act, which introduced the reformative sentence. He revised the Act, and suggested regulations bearing in mind the ultimate reformation of prisoners at all times. When the Waikeria Reformatory, founded on his instigation, was established he acted as superintendent for two years. Following his resignation from that position, he resumed parish work and held several charges in the Auckland Diocese and in Otaco He is survived by his wife.