SALE OF PRISON PRODUCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21865, 19 August 1936, Page 11

SALE OF PRISON PRODUCE

MAINTENANCE OF SELF-RESPECT COMPETITION TO BE INVESTIGATED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, August 18. The opinion that a prisoner was just as entitled to sell the product of his labour as was anyone else, was expressed by the Minister for Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), when referring to the competition of prison labour with private enterprise during consideration of the estimates of the Department of Justice and Prisons in the House of Representatives today. Mr Mason said that the Prisons Department demanded fair prices for its products. Nothing in the nature of a destructive attitude had been adopted. The first thing, said Mr Mason, was the rehabilitation of the prisoner. It was essfential that the prisoner should maintain his self-respect, ana the first element was to have him engaged in useful work. He remained a man iust as a man outsi .. The resemblances were perhaps more important than differences. Useful work was vary necessary for the prisoner, and it was very Oifficult to find that which did not come into competition with outside interests. He would look into the matter and see to what exent the competition could be minimised. “I cannot give an assurance that the products of prison labour will not be sold.’’ said the Minister.