Mr Barnett’s Appreciation Of N.Z.’s Penal Problems

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 14

Mr Barnett’s Appreciation Of N.Z.’s Penal Problems

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 2. “Heavy sluggishness” marked the providing of new penal institutions and additions to old ones, the former Secretary of Justice (Mr S. T. Barnett) said in his annual report on the Justice Department, This, and the rapid and unexpected increase in crime, particularly among adolescents, had confounded his hopes that, by 1960, the department would be doing "really good work” in the penal field. His report, tabled in the House of (Representatives today, said that in “bald and general terms” New Zealand’s penal problems were:— “(1) One-third of our prisoners are under 21 years. “(2) Very little fewer than a third are classed as Maoris, and in the under 21 group more than a third are Maoris. “(3) Over half those on probation are under 21 and a third

are Maoris. “We do not have sufficient room for those sent to institutions. Hiere is not adequate staff qualified to deal with offenders on probation or in penal institutions. We do not have one modem institution.

and most are quite unsuitable on present acceptable international standards for good penal work,” he said. But, Mr Barnett added that In many ways the department was doing better penal work than had ever been ' done before. “Many sensible and constructive aids to preparing prisoners for a useful life have been introduced and are being used with increasing effect. Education, vocational training, psychological, medical, and religious services are mounting in skill and usefulness. “Yet the real problems remain untouched because they are not within the scope and power of the department to ameliorate," Mr Barnett said.