Pre-release Hostel ‘Well Worth While’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 1

Pre-release Hostel ‘Well Worth While’

' ’ Since the pre-release hostel at 50 Vincent place, Opawa. was opened on May 3, 12 prisoners from Paparua have lived there while working in the city. Only one has had to be sent back to prison. To be eligible for transfer to the hostel, a prisoner must be serving a gaol term of two years or more, and be in the last six months bf his effective term of imprisonment. “There are plenty of applicants. and I think it is proving well worth while.” the hostel warden (Mr J. W. Broad fey) said yesterday. The hostel, a single-storey house more than 40 years old, was bought for £2BOO. It was in very poor repair, and the

grounds were neglected. Prison labour was used to strip ’ all the interior walls and plaster and paper them again. The grounds have been brought into good order. The hostel has wall-to-wall carpets, radios, a television set, household appliances, and new furniture made at the Paparua Prison workshops, where prisoners are taught i trades. I “Prison labour was used for fall the work except the wiring and lighting, which was j done by the Ministry of r Works. The total cost of the r property has been only about i £5000.” Mr Broadley said. f> The hostel can house six s prisoners at a time. i-| The beds have foam-rubber ■mattresses, an automatic laun-i-;dry is in the washhouse, and ■-.the kitchen has the latest e home r.I From Monday to Thursdaj the prisoners have to be bacl yiat the hostel by 6 p.m. Thej I,'are allowed to stav out on Fri s i day night, and allowed awa; e from the hostel from 1 p.m. t<

-; midnight on Saturday. Leave >iis given on Sunday in the - afternoon to 10 pin. s "The most important objective here is to get the men into the work habit. We have L already had excellent reports i from several employers," Mr 1 Broadley said. Prisoners who had wives in ‘>jChristchurch could visit them < during the hours they were fallowed out of the hostel and r were not at work. Families ’were allowed to visit the hosjitel at any reasonable time. p| The prisoners paid £4 a ? | week board and were allowed >up to £2 a week pocket .'money. The wages were paid .into a trust account, and a lump sum was given to the p i prisoner when he left the d 'hostel. Some prisoners had tc rt ipay back money given tc their wives and families bj ylthe Social Security Depart Ifclment while they were in pri y son. One had paid back £25! £ from his earnings. iy j The prisoner who had beet to I sent back to gaol had ac

b . costed a girl on his way back e to the hostel from wprk. Mr | Broadley said. •I “Neither the girl nor her i parents complained to the e | police. The girl knew the s|man was from the hostel, and r told my wife and myself iwhat' had happened." Mr n Broadley said. n The Paparua Prison authorities were informed, and the tl| man was taken back to gaol. s , “Since the incident, the .. selection system has been I changed," Mr Broadley said. a "My wife and 1 interview apd plicants wanting to live at , t the hostel, and I go through d their records. a | “The man who misbehaved e |was sent from the release-to-e|work scheme at the Adding--0 ton Prison. I knew nothing 0 1 about him. | y “The rule now is that any I. prisoner who is detected in .j. any offence against the law. 15! even a traffic breach, while at i the hostel will go before the , n |courts like any other perBison.”