PRISON REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 8

PRISON REFORM.

THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME. CUT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Auckland, April 6. Discussing tbe Government's advanced scheme of prison reform with a reporter today, a gentlemen well versed in the subject of prisons and prisoners expressed high approval thereof. The decision to close Wanganui and Hokitika Gaols was, he said, a step in tlie right directon.- It was the biggest mistake in the world to have too many small gaols scattered all over the country. It would bo far more economical to centralise the prisoners in bigger places than to have them located all over the place. Small prisons meant expensive staffs. At Wanganui and also at Hokitika, for instance, there waa a gaoler, matron, surgeon, Srineipal warder, and two warders. Again iseipline could not be maintained well at small gaols. Another thing in regard to the latter was that there was only a small number of' prisoners there as a rale, yet the staff had to be kept up just the same as if the prison was full. The Government's idea of starting reformatory farms wae also strongly favoured. There was plenty of country where such establishments could be placed _ At Wae:enga, for instance, prisoners might be set to drain swamps and reclaim clay hills, and so turn a large area to profitable use. Tho foiro lands up north could also be utilised. If a big reformatory farm, or. gaol, were established there the prisoners confd plant orchards and grow fruit and vegetables for the Auckland market. He considered it was a bad thing to have big gaols in the cities. They ought all to be out in the country.