Ban on woman’s visits to prison

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 18

Ban on woman’s visits to prison

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December IC.

The president of a prison reform group, Mrs M. Thomson, has been banned from making further visits to the maximum security Auckland prison at Paremoremo. Giving reasons for the ban, the prison superintendent (Mr J. Hobson), said that she had made certain allegations to an Auckland newspaper after a search of the prison last month.

She had asserted, according to the newspaper, that inmates had been assaulted, that one inmate had had his shaving gear removed, and that another had had his contact lenses smashed. She had named specific Inmates to a private source — but it had been found that there was “absolutely no truth” in the allegations. Mr Hobson said.

During the search of the prison, said Mr Hobson, officers had uncovered plans within the gaol to begin an underground newspaper. There were indications, he said, that the plans were linked with the prison reform group. Project Paremoremo, and that Mrs Thomson had admitted she intended to write some articles for the newspaper.

“I am not going to have any underground newspaper Circulated in this prison,” Mr Hobson said. TACTICS OUTSIDE

The ban placed on Mrs * Thomson was not intended to be a long-term one, Mr Hobson said, and would probably be lifted, or at least reviewed, after the formal inquiry into conditions at the prison by the Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) and a retired magistrate, Mr L. G. H. Sinclair.

Although Mr Hobson would * not comment on the matter,] it is known that prison auth-l orities attribute much of the! recent troubles at Paremoremo to the "tactics” of people outside the prison. There have been occasions — such as a recent hunger . strike — where newspapers have telephoned Mr Hobson 'for confirmation. Mr Hobson has at times been unable to help, simply because he has not been aware of any ■ troubles within the prison. “IN GOOD FAITH” Mrs Thomson said this evening that she had gone to, the press in good faith with] allegations of mistreatment of I inmates. She had done this; so that an inquiry might be ; held to bring out the true: facts to the public.

"I don’t kno. whether all the allegations were true or not.” she said. “Rumours spread quickly, and it is verylikely that the claims were not true, or perhaps exaggerated. But I felt strongly that the true facts should be brought to the public’s attention through an inquiry.”

Mrs Thomson denied hat Project Paremoremo was connected with an underground

newspaper, or that she intended to write articles for

“I know it (the newspaper) was being planned,” she said, “and I had some sympathy for it. I was asked to write for it, but decided against the idea.”

The plan had come from Dblock inmates, who had been declined permission to take part in the running of the “official” prison newspaper, started by Project Paremoremo some months ago, Mrs Thomson said.

“DONE NOTHING WRONG” Mrs Thomson said she was not worried about the ban on her visits “because I know I have done nothing wrong.” All she hoped was that it was not too long.

"I am a little upset at the moment betause it means I cannot visit prisoners at Christmas,” she said. “Some of them depend on me.”