LYTTELTON GAOL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13377, 19 March 1909, Page 4

LYTTELTON GAOL.

« INSPECTION BY THE MINISTER.

The Hon. Dr. Findlay paid another visit of inspection to Lyttelton Gaol yesterday in company with Mr Geo. Lauren&Ton, M.P. The Minister made a closo examination of that part of the prison in which the young offenders are placed, and got Mr M. Cloary, governor of the gaol, to give him full information as to the ' methods of treatment adopted in regard to tlii.3 particular class. In the course of a* .subsequent conver sation with a representative of "The Prees," Dr. Findlay stated that Mr Cleary, who retired at the ond> of the present month, wouJd leave the service ivith a splendid record. "He is one of the most humane of our ' prison officials/, the speaker adckxl "and has done the best he could with the- quarters available for the treatment of young offenders." It was clear, however the Minister continued, that the prison was in no way adapted for the classification and proper separate treatment of prisoners from 16 to 21 years of age. The system he (Dr. Findlay) proposed to adopt would involvo very slight structural alterations, and ho hoped by its means to effect tho segregation of the. hardened criminals from first offenders, these latter, again, being sub-divided into two broad, classes, according to age. Since Dr. Findley's last visit to Lyttelton, hot water had been furnisher.' for the baths at which the prisoners mad© their ablutions at least once a week, and lights were kept going untiU 7.45 every night. The prisoners greatly appreciated both concessions. ' and ; tho gaoler boliei'ed , they would have ! good results. The speaker hed given instructions that the inmates of tho gaol should Tμ? permitted to read , the current magazines. So far, however, not. many had been sent iri for their use. The prison libraries generally were far from adequately stocked. No system had been followed, and the libraries were dependent chiefly upon gifts of books from private sources. ! "The reports that have been furnished" ! to mc," the Minister continued, "have : indicate*! , what the needs of th«ee li- ; braries are, and I hope, without any i expense to the country whatever, to ; provide proper periodicals and books j for the prisoners, the purpose of these, .of course, being mainly reformative."