MOUNT EDEN PRISON DISTURBANCE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 10

MOUNT EDEN PRISON DISTURBANCE

No Committee Inquiry An investigation by a Parliamentary committee into the causes which led to Hie recent disturbance at Alount Eden Jail, Auckland, is considered unnecessary by the Alinister of Justice, Hon. 11. G. R. Mason, who replied in the House of Representatives yesterday to a question on the subject asked by Mr. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill). Air. Mason said the circumstances leading to Hie disturbance had been fully investigated and reported to him, and it was considered that it was neither necessary nor desirable to set up a Parliamentary or other committee to investigate the matter further. He had taken pains personally to familiarise himself with the administration and control of the prison system, and from bis own investigation lie was satisfied that it wa.s efficiently and humanely administered, and that 110 useful purpose would be achieved by arranging for an independent investigation at the present time. FARM COTTAGES Housing For Married Men A suggestion that the Government should arrange for advances to farmers for the construction of cottages on their farms so that they xvould be able to employ married men instead of single men only through lack of accommodation, was made by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Country Party,' Franklin), in notice of a question to the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. AA’. Lee Martin, in the House of Representatives yesterday. "Such a scliemc would be a great advantage from the point of view of the employer, the employee and the State." said Mr. Sexton. "Power would have |O he 1.-iken lo prevent mortgagees holding it up. This might be done without injustice to mortgagees by making the amount of the adx-.ince a prior statutory charge on the lam] in consideratiou of the improvements effected to such land.”