PRISON GATE REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 631, 7 October 1909, Page 8

PRISON GATE REFORM.

<PUBLIC MEETING AT ISLAND BAY, : :MR: Jtf STICE' ED WAKD3 TAKES * A : HAND. ; -A' public ineefcing; was-held at the'Schbolr'oorii, '< Island last night", for'the,purpose of forming a committee theVinterests';"6f.''.th*o ' residents, -and..: property-owners -.in - connection • ,witli', the proposed;• establishment. of,a; Prison ;(VBte and rag-sortingj industry 'by the' Salvation Apmv in their .district. , . v . • . . . Mr- U •l' 1 - Hindmarsli presided over an attendance of about- ninety persons. .*:'•• The "chairman remarked ,-that. .be'did >;not-as-.socfate himself 'with those who were actively .opposing the; establishment of the. home ;at Island tfav." Ha f?cognised the fact" that the'Salvafcioiv Afnijf Vas' doing good work, but- he realised also • tnat: there /were'; grave. objections to: •. tße^ereCtibivof/ such. a"home at. lsland/Bay.- as ;proposed. 'w... , ••• .-Mr. W. C.'Chatfield said that-no/one present ■was ' opposed ,to ' the : Army's. principles' as- -.a whole,; but' thisy. wishe(i';to be. preserved jrom havine a i'umber. of. prisoners . dumped down neighbourhood. Ho moved: ' ! . . .... ■' "That. ontirely in sTmpatlij. . : .•Srith , ,the!!g6o'd work .cartied ...on, by. the, Sal-.. ; Army.. residents- and pro- ■ '^pertr-wila*• 'of'/vMind-i Bay, ;.;viaw ..with,-, ! ■ alarm ;th : e'.ifltentidn.'of..tlie'Ariny i to estab-.. ■■ rlisti ■ ,V"Prison ' (into Hoirio' in, .midst. : 1, for the "purpose- of; congregating discharged-. : •/cfimiitals and .others.'from, the;gaot6 of the.;. '. Dominion, 'ami emphatically protest on _bev 1 ;lihlf of oar Women "and children . against '; of, sucti : nil. 'institution,; ■ .-.believing 'as-iye do that it is: a .menace: to ■ "fho safety and respectability of the' dis-' trict." i" - '•

.. Sri. ChAtfield. went, on to ( quot'e a. letter from Jlr. ;,.T,!,P..;.:Luke,.jM,]P. ..for-, tjie., distript, who. stated; that-jKo": had,, a previous engagement at Ohariu. .. .The, letter .prodded.:—"Will - you jile'ase explain' that'X .view , with concern.. the Gate ..Brißade in th? 'midst-,of any , of.:our . suburban ..area. While giving every credit. to the. Christian philaktr.ophy, of; the Salvation ,inust;safegnard .the.-interests- of- tho community in the residential'locality.-;Especially is this necessary for the' welfare of'-the children•'and,,young people. : While our hearts should go out to reclaim ; the fallen- and. help, the weai, -. it shoald.-'notvbo'. at the espense',of daily, .examples of:,reclamation' being, attempted.,in sur,lbiindings'!;adjicent.. to • a. people who . desire, to lielp themselves' and thdir children away .from thgse who have associations and remembrancee;

'of -;p'r)son.'life. A letter was also received from the Hon.. T. W. Iljslop, ifhich. said:—"l think.-that great .carfi -shonld .be .taken,'in. choosing.-a site for a ; Prison Gate.Home. -While attention should;he given .to thopo' who are ; to be -benefi ted.by; its establishment, a place like- Island Bay seems •to !me inadvisable : for-reason's- which are obvious." ■■■' Mr A, Ocllin '.seconded the motion., 1 . Comrade Dowdall adversely; tritioised the .industrial'-methftds'-of.-, the. Army. . ,] . V :« ..'Mr.- .C.'; Hill," sen.,: made, reference,,;to . the lessenedsecunty ;; of;the; . woqien and children it such-a home established. <■ .

Mr Justice,> Edwards: said -he,'was .the. first' person -to ..cpmeS'frp'm., Wellirigton .to:-. 1 Island Bay. / Even'now: .the only- roof, he,', .could' call his.own -in:.'\fflllingt6n was at"the bay. -: (Hear,; hear.) It wis thought that they were,; coining safe.apd respectable place, but.what senseiof. -security .would their wpmen Have There vwus -a . very ■. large..number,.;of criminals,/aid;thcM : , who interfered with un-' protected T?o'men' and ohildren .appeared- to be on.;the'incrMse,' : allhbbgh.lie';did not think the Army.'.interided-.to The plsoe - would not bo safe, unless the. police were' greatly-, strengthened, ~or unless, the: Army, Seat out. a' 'special .'.brigade '.-.to. protect,• thepeople: In: regard; tov feinarks made against: the Army he disseDted.,from'.;them.;. -If/ the' Army'; Shelter; was ~,'not- opiri, whe'ra;;could; .tlie waif? be'-,sheltered >..: ''The. Army, uiidoubrtilly did'a lot-'of. good,<and all honour to them,'for ;it. - .Snch a isooiety was engaged .upon a' nobis work.'. It - was/stated' that the Army, did this -from, profit, ,but-if;so he knew nothing of it, I unless thers was profit in the consciousness ',of good work done- (Applause.) Still,' he. did-not think', that; the . Army' was well- advised to 'establish such a home at the suburb. . The residents wera the-first to be'considered,, and the home, in 'spite of .its noble objects,, would 'have evil influences. ~

;. Thb . motion -was. carried by' acclamation, and a strong committee was,set up. to wait-on., tin City Council and take whatever action was Adeemed necessary.' '