PRISON GATE MISSION.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15462, 15 December 1915, Page 5

PRISON GATE MISSION.

■* ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Christchurcli Priron Gate Mission was held yesterday, Dean Carrington presiding. The report stated that during the year forty discharged prisoners were given orders for temporary board. Two men were shipped to sea, and many were assisted to the country. Two \\ ere sent to the bailors' Home. Ono hundred and seven men said they had no need of financial help, and titty-six vcrc received by friends. One man had joined the forces, one .had gone to the Mental Hospital, and one to Australia. All the prisoners were interviewed on discharge, ai.d bad kind words spoken to them and help offered. Tlie new prison at Templeton was making rapid progress. At present there were 21 men at work, and before long there would be a still larger number. Provision would have to be made for visiting and helping tlioiv-? men. The inmates of tho women's prison at Addington were small as compared with the number of men at Lyitelton. Jn his March report to the committee. Air Smail said there were more women in prison than lie had known at miy time, and in Apiil he reported that the number still kept high, and the women discharged, unfortunately, wished to go their own way. Mueh earnest work was done at tlie Addington gaol by the lady visitors. Tlie balance-shot showed :—Receipts £'3-19 17s 3d. which included £200 loan renaid, £100 Airs Town end's legacy, £•3 interest on mortagage, and £-13 i<"s 3d se.bvjiiptiors; expenditure £'j3 Is od. balance .C'i'Sl 13s lOd. The Dean urged that an appeal should be made to the public for subscriptions to help on the work of the mission, for it was found necessary durinir the nasi year to trench on capital. the ordinary income proving insufficient. The work of the mission wr.s a most necessary part of the prison system, for it seemed ridiculous that a man, after purgiur; his crime by punishment, should he treated as n paiiah on release, ami denied a chance to ~eform and do better. That was where tlie mission came in, and if people only knew what irood was being done they would bo only too willing to help witn money. The following officers were clected: — Committee, Rev. J.R. Hewland, Canon C';jates, Ahs'Guise, Mi's J. H. AYilsoii, "Miss M. Ollivier, Aliss Guise, Captain Alarriel, and Air J. 11. Stringer; hon. treasurer. Al'r J. 11. Stringer. .Mr Srnail said the men at the Templeton prison liked the farm work, and the notion of establishing a farm prison w,i> ;;n excellent one. Air 11 ewland said tlie men now at Templeton were engaged at present in | making hollow concrete blocks for the I prison buildings. The farm work was also being carried on, and all ! tables required at tlie gaol wore cup- | plied from Templeton. Mr Smail said that the gaol wasJiir.e was done by the women at the Addington gaol.