WORK IN PRISONS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29898, 11 August 1962, Page 12

WORK IN PRISONS

Complaints By Traders (N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 10. The Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) said in the House of Representatives today he could not say he would be a party to restricting the training in and acquiring of skills by people in penal institutions. He thought the question of competition with private enterprise was a minor matter. He was asked by Miss M B. Howard (Opposition. Sydenham) during discussion of the estimates of the Justice Department, under what conditions prisoners at Paparua prison were making furpiture She said cabinetmakers had complained to her that the prison was making furniture and competing on the open market.

Mr Hanan said many skilled trades were carried on in prisons. There would always be complaints from private enterprise on the problems of competition. A powerful argument, he said, was the rehabilitation of the prisoner for later life. Stiffer Sentences The Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) favours stiffer sentences for crimes such as assault and rape. “I am of the view that more severe sentences would be helpful in reducing the number of serious crimes in this country,” he said, during discussion of the Justice Department estimates. Youth Prison A youth prison is likely to be established in Manawatu It will cost about £300,000 and occupy 200 acres, Mr Hanan said during discussion of Justice Department estimates The prison would be for a young person who should not go into either a penal institution or Borstal Mr Hanan said the Government would also establish a pre-release hostel for Borstal inmates in Mount Albert. It would accommodate 10 or 12 trainees, and negotiations were already under way for purchase of property. No Bartering Only as a last resort would New Zealand resort to barter to dispose of meat, said the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) when answering a supplementary question by Mr P. G. Connolly (Opposition, Dunedin Central). Mr Marshall had been asked about the development of a mutton trade with Pakistan’s 94 million muttoneating people. He replied that Pakistan had a serious balance of payments problem and there was no provision made for imports of mutton Pension Increases Increases in disablement, war widows and economic pensions will be met in the supplementary estimates, said the Minister in charge of War Pensions (Mr Kinsella). He said an extra £300,000 would be needed this year for the budget increases in disablement and war widows’ pensions. Cost in a full year would be £400,000. The increases in economic pensions. following the Arbitration Court wage order, would cost £155,000 this financial year and £220,000 for a full year. Lottery Prizes It was not proposed to alter the existing prize list in the Golden Kiwi lottery in the meantime, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz) said. The phenomenal demand for tickets in each lottery did not indicate any general dissatisfaction with the odds offered to investors, which were similar to those in overseas lotteries, he said. He had been asked if he would close the gap between the first and second prizes by inserting an additional £5OOO prize and substituting £lO prizes for the £5 prizes. Law Abiding “The volume of work in the law-abiding community of the West Coast does not justify the appointment of a Magistrate there.’’ said the Attorney - General (Mr Hanan). Mr P. Blanchfield (Opposition, Westland) had said that the time was ripe for the Minister to consider the appointment of a magistrate there. Courts were held at Whataroa. Hokitika, Greymouth, Reefton and Westport once a month, though a: present a Christchurch magis. irate could not travel there because of ill health. More Diesels Diesel locomotives were now hauling 66.9 per cent, of the North Island goods traffic and another 10 would be introduced later this year, the general manager (Mr A T. Gaudell) said in the annual report of the Railways Department The diesels in service had conclusively proved their worth and continued expansion was warranted just as quickly as permitted.