PRISON REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 511, 19 May 1909, Page 8

PRISON REFORM.

TSEE-tHLANTJNC CAMPS. : SOME OBOECaSEONABIS tfEATTJEES. . HOW SUNDAY K SPENT. (BX XXLZaBira—TBSSS ASBOCUTIONJ Auckland, May. 18. . The Hon. Dr. Rndlay; Minister in Charge of the Prisons Department, was to-day waited upon by a deputationfrom the Auckland Distressed Prisoners' Aid Society. The Bev. Mr. Budd said that they were there to represent the Auckland Distressed Prisoners' Aid Society, which in one way and another assisted about .200 discharged prisoners in each year. The most important branch of the subject of prison reform rotated to the Yireatment: of boys and young men; They wanted to make the first sentence the last sentence. This could only, be done by keeping young offenders away from old hands. There was need for real classification with constant supervision. There was also need for the very best officers being placed in'charge, men or strong moral and religious convictions; The work should be hard and remunerative, and of a kind, which would be of use to them on leaving orison. He advocated secular religious instruction by Tecognisod and appointed Protestant and Boman Catholic instructors.; A carefully-' selected library was also necessary. A reformatory ship to. which boys, beyond, parental control could be sent rather than to gaol was another, question worthy of consideration. Tho tree-planting camps ■ were passing beyond the experimental stage. The singlo cell, or hut, system, however, needed to be intTo : . duoed. ; The disdpline, oßjectionable lan-, guage, and morality wore often very bad. was spent in a disgraceful way, the men sporting, -occasionally fighting; smoking, and loafing:around. .-,/ Three out of four Sundays;' contrary 'to /.tho regulation) there .wero,;n^*'rolig^us;, i seTvices, and . all ./this showed^that thero'was little in this part of the Government's zeal for reform., In his opinion /the 26' days'per year reduction of senten«e...for tree-planting, was nnjust. In the case of two men, each, sentenced .to five years, 'one; a useful tradesman, might be kept in gaol, and tho other sent to WaiotapUi'..:The latter would get his discharge, four (months before. He was no, advocate te. leniencyraU';.rounds ..The professional criminal. - was inot, a fit subject for gentle treatment, yet even the hardened man might not be irreclaimable. Speaking broadly, sentences should be shorter and sharper, and there should be'some'attempt at a "standardisation of.sentences;"'"/,'• Statement by Dr. Flnalay. . iiDr. -Undlay; in/reply, said he gathered that the deputation '.chiefly' desired'that tho Government should, as far as possible, encourage and assist the society, which did .'not\deal/.with! prison reform, but with, the 'prisoners after 'they' had left the gaols. The question of allowing visitors to see the prisoners more often!was one requiring serious .attention, Bince.much harm rfr 'suit' - from/ al lowing visiting. Hejrealised fully what a great deal had to be done for the prisoners after they left the 1 gaols, and the importance of post-gaol ■treatment-was seen in every country. .In .England, '.and more /'particularly America, ''the' treatment, of the prisoner :after his release was regarded as. being of prime importance. He had had constant illustrations of how easy it was for young men to slip back.tb.'theehTOOnment they, had left and become ;wprse than, they were .before. If taken from' the environment which had :made him vicious, the prisoner's reform might' be complete: :■ Merely 'putting ten shillings in,-'a; prisoner's pocket after his 'release.-was ..not"'enough.V He -had to' be helped. ,in - many .ways. Occupation had to he' had given'much thought to this matter. He agreed' 'that they should steadily improve their system of classification, and .Mr. Waldegravo, jof the Justice ; Department, and Dr. Hay, InspectorrGuneral, i'.were' going: into the question very thoroughly with him.. He hoped to shortly put into force 'Borne Bcheme of classification which would "have the'effect of separating first offenders from hardened' criminals. .It was easy to be a critic, but it was not so easy to find a scheme which would work satisfactorily • in New Zealand. 'It wasj impossible to 'have one great central gaol where they .'could deal at one time with ,1000 prisoners; <:Ijr the small gaols claßsification was impossible. They would, in somo cases, have, classes with only one prisoner in them, and that wonld be reducing tho matter to ah absurdity. In tree-planting,sta-tions he,, was going to make strenuous improvements, and the Department .would institute the single cell system. There were 5000; persons sent to gaol in : New Zealand every year, and it was well worth while trying to. rednca trds state of things by the adoption of > scientific : methods.- swrricn had passed the experimental stage, m other countries.'. -':.''-'' "'.. FARMS. ",V FBI IBIMEiPH.—fIWCTAL c6«EESPONBBjri.I .. '' '■.'■"."• Auckland, May. 17. ;■ The Hon.' Dr. Kndlay, Minister in chargo of the Prisons Department, told ah interviewer that the Government intended to set aside a sufficient area of the Moumahaki State: farm, near 'Wanganui, as a farm, and the scheme for working this farm,, and the general rules regarding the class of offenders, to be sent thoro, ,were now under, consideration by himself and the Inspector of Prisons. (Dr. Hay). ; ■. ','A smaller farm," Dr. Findlay went on to say, "will he established,in the South Island. EVom the experience of other countries where this experiment;has been tried I have every reason to expect satisfactory results. The'area of the farm will be decided by tie numborof prisoners we are likely to sohd there. The class of prisoners who' will be sent there\will be young offenders from 16 probably up to 25, and first offenders in oertain classes of crime. I also hope,to have alterations made,in; the law in- orderito enable the reforms of the present system,which I havo been considering with Dr. Hay' to be carried Out." ', v .