IS IT JUSTICE?

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14379, 12 June 1912, Page 7

IS IT JUSTICE?

LYTTELTON GAOL TROUBLE. CHIEF GAOLER SHIFTED. strong dissatisfaction is felt by a large number of people in Lyttelton in connection with what is said to be injustice meted out by the Justice Department. The chief gaoler is to oe transferred to Dunedin because of certain troubles that havo occurred in the gaol administration lately. " The trouble seems to be of some months' duration. A clergyman w-hose duty it is to visit the gaol at intervals informed a "Press" representative yesterday that when the new chief gaoler Mr 11. McMurray, came to take chargo in Lyttelton, he * found the prevailing tone of discipline lax. He. was instructed from Wellington to use a firm hand in remedying this'state or affairs, and accordingly he took certain measures with tliat end in view. While the prisoners, were at work, nionoy, tobacco, and even such articles as jam camo into their possession. Jri.o gave orders that two men from each gang should lx* searched. This was done, and then occurred what is known as the prisoners' strike. Tho, prisoners kept up a perpetual uproar through r"i/j night, and refused io go out Irom "Ti'-'ir cells on the following day until tU*?y. hti_-seen thi* inspector. The in-! specter hud not visited the institution j for .-tv-n months. There was, alter a, time, a private enquiry, "rome bitt-T- j ness entered into it, shown chiefly, tlw! reporter's informant stated, by those I in higher positions than the chief gaoler. The result was that orders have como. for Mr McMurray's trans-j for to Dunedin. "I think," said'the clergyman, "that] ho has not been treated, fairly at all- j He was simply carrying out his duties properly, and under instructions. The exposure, however, was resented by one or two in authority, and hence, ', the decision to shift liim to Dunfdin. The* example is surely a bad one to be sot by the Department of Justice. It is possible that further action may "*» taken tyniany people who have mtiirtxrt relations with the gne! administra-; tion, perhaps by way of a petition, or • a meeting of protest, but no definite | course has yet been decided on." I