TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 9

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

INJUSTICES ALLEGED. [THE PBESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, July 18. . The methods employed in the Waikune prison camp were the subject of a series of allegations which were made in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino), who gave notice to ask a question of the Minister for Justice (the Hon. Mr Wilford). Mr Langstone's series of questions was as follows: —If it was the policy of the Prisons Department to work prisoners at National Park station from 7.30 a.m. until 8 p.m. ? Was the Minister aware that the prisoners were promised extra food in the shape of butter and cheese, and tobacco for working on Sundays, and that the extra allowance was never given them? Did the Minister know that on March 6th, the Prisons Board visited Waikune and that illegal methods were used to secure trout from the stream to provide a fish meal for the Board? Was the Minister aware that on March 9th prisoners working at Mountain Camp in the rain got wet through, that they j knocked off work and took shelter, j and that Mr Glynu, then officer in ! charge, came along and promised the men afternoon tea and cakes if they would work, and that one prisoner refused and had his tobacco rations stopped? Did the Minister know that prisoners were now engaged in clearing a large area of land for golf links in front of the Chateau Tongariro for the Tongariro Tourist Company, and was he aware that those prisoners were compelled to work for several davs in four inches of snow ? j Mr Langstone also desired to know I whether the Minister was aware tuat ! prisoners started work at 7.30 a.m. and should have been, back in their camps at 4.30 p.m.. but that it was often after 5 p.m. before they were returned to their camps. Also, did the Minister know that any prisoner who had the temerity to ask a warder the time was threatened with all sorts of penalties? Sir Apirana Ngata: What's the award? (Laughter).