PRISON REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 7

PRISON REFORM.

i AN IMPORTANT ,INSTALMENT. . MORE TO FOLLOW. The appointment of Dr. Hay as liiEpoctor of Prisons, as announced in another column, is regarded as an earnest of tho Hon. Dr. Findlny's intention to introduco moro modem methods into tbe prison system of New Zealand. The Minister has already obtained from Dr. Hay, who is an export in the science of criminology, a report on 40 prisoners, regarding their suitability or otherwise for transfer from tlio gaols to tho tree-planting stations. Tho report deals with tho circumstances, character, and record of each prisoner, and in each install oo Dr. Hay makes a recommendation an to whethor the prisoner should or should not be sent to a tree-planting station. No prisoner will bo accorded this special treatment except on Dr. Hay's recommendation. In tho past these questions have been decided mainly on the conduct marks of tho prisoners, and with littlo or no rcferenco to their previous records. Colonel Hume, in his last report, said: "If tree-planting prisons are for good-conduct prisoners, as they are intended to be, then it seems the question for consideration before sending a person there is not so much his offenco and previous history as whether ho is trying? to reform; and the only judges can bo those who lave been supervising him, who are invariably consulted before transfers are made. ' It will bo seen from the above extract that the change now being introduced is an 'linovation of some importance. Bettor classification throughout tlio prisons has Also been foreshadowed by tho Minister, and it will bo interesting to boo whether ho will rely m all cases upon expert examination instead of upon prison records and gaolers' reports as to conduct. Another reform ill connection with tho tree-planting camps will bo tlio separate housing of the prisoners. -Hitherto fourhavo occupied the samo cottage, and tho Minister believes that when tlio men ; aro housed by themselves, a marked improvement in tho whole Bvstem will result. Dr. Findlay also hopes to establish reformatory fnrmSj where young men and lads, instead of going through the dreary round of prison life, will be subjected to strict discipline and made to work, while being taught the practice of agriculture and fitted to take their places as useful members of society.'