A PROTEST.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 April 1908, Page 4

A PROTEST.

' LONG-SENTENCE"'. PRISONERS,, AT . WAIOTAPU.. * .(or' TELEGRAM.—SrEtIAI.-CORRESrONBIfN'T.) ■' -v ■ ' • :^uok!and,'*Apnls>. "" : Tbo esjjapo of tfo prisoners .from .tho 'tsce* •planting 'station at Av'aiotapu affords' a ;jjjsg. on which. |ir f}he Herald" hands'. an adversq.' 'criticism ■ on,,the systqm.e of sending long' sen-' • .tence ineiiij.to/the worifj. .. In the course.' a leading'. the .journal in- question .sajs!:— it' ghastly; tragedy.V .to teach, us.; wjiat-niay, happen . when.',vicious :■ ' .degenerates;., .soutcnce's, .'aro.'., ■making a for .liberty'through 6"Jpracj.'- ! tically , uupoliccij ai(d...sparsely .settled, .trict? And inhabitants'of Rotorua'.' ,110; claim V. JigliUyguarded ' housebreakers and ' other ' violent ' .criminals.. should,' fee congregated, in . their * neighbourhood? /if. tlie present - system i 3„, continued long ei,mugh>!-,it ; to-,"0hd;.,,; in crimo and', blapiJU||ed,'i which,jivill. produco; •; a public indjgnation,, before f which, itheV authorities must -.give,.;.way. ft would bo .

wiser and better jfjo change tho- system 'at once, and to limit \tlifl, .Waiotapu.camp to. short isentoiicc a(jd,-.g<3(5(l conduct! prisoners, who are not in any', Wajj,, confirmed offenders against the law, to crimes which endanger, human, life,;, and \vh° may reasonably bo expected .to;.|S.o .profit by mild and kindly imprisonment; jihatiwheil;..,given" full liberty they will not agaiij'offend qgainsi the laws. ...