PRISON SYSTEM

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 171, 15 April 1932, Page 12

PRISON SYSTEM

Cost in New Zealand MORE PROBATION URGED The cost of the New Zealand prison system was criticised last night by Miss B. E. Baughan, 8.A., in giving an address on “Probation” under the auspices of the Howard Reform League. Miss Baughan urged that probation should be more extensively granted in New Zealand. In this country there were four times as many people in prison in proportion to the population than there were in England. On the English figures there should be about 500 in prison daily in New Zealand, whereas the actuill figures were 1400 to 1500. In the last ten years the prison population had increased by nearly 50 per cent., and the cost of maintenance had increased at the same rate, being at the present time £BO a year a head.

There were 27 prisons, none of which had been closed, continued Miss Baughan, and prison camps had been established. Probation was supervision within the community; prison was supervision outside the community. She asked the public to support the Howard League in its plea for a larger measure of probation, which she was sure would have its effect in reducing crime. A paper in favour of the abolition of capital punishment was read by Mr. C. N. R. Mackie, who contended that the death penalty was not a deterrent of crime, and said that imprisonment for life was a more severe punishment.