'Prison Staff Shortage Burden During Riot'

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30940, 22 December 1965, Page 7

'Prison Staff Shortage Burden During Riot '

(If J. FrtM AtSOCMIttU WELLINGTON, Dee. 2L There was little doubt that * * t>g shortage had thrown an excessive burden upon officers serving In Auckland Prison at the time of the July riot, said the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) today when ho released the report of the commission of toqriry into the riot

Mr Hanan said the report emphasised that the paeon service must offer conditions of employment to get staff of the right calibre In the public Interest it must bo regarded ae an essential occupete, and should bo made more attractive even if it meant treating the service m a special caee. Ho said no conclusive evidence had boon addneed to

show how a firearm had been brought into the prison before the riot It seemed dear, however, that without the firearm the whole chain uf subsequent events may not have taken place. The report had drawn attention to the inadequacy of Mount Eden IMbon and had again emphasised 'the need for the new prison at Paremoremo.

The Government had already accorded top priority to this project, and construction wou" be accelerated as fast as the contractors could manage. A new security unit, being built inside the wails of Mount Eden, would be finished next month and would provide accommodation for the 14 worst security risks.