HABITUAL CRIMINALS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 8

HABITUAL CRIMINALS.

A WARD AT NEW PLYMOUTH. Up to the present time eight persons, one of whom is a woman, have been dealt with under the provisions of the Habitual Criminals ana Offenders Act, and these aro to be placed in a special ward of the prison at New Plymouth, nt the expiration of the sentences which they are now serving. One of the number was convicted at New Plymouth, and is now there, and the others are in various other gdols. A wing of the New Plymouth prison is being ntted up to accommodate the habitual criminals, and the Minister for Justice (Hon. J. M'Gowan) and the Inspector of Prisons Lieutenant-Colonel Hume) will leave Wellington on Monday to inspect it. The consultative committee, in connection with the habitual criminal division of the gaol, will consist of the local stipendiary magistrate, the gaoler, and visiting justices. Under the Act, any prisoner who wishes to be released must forward a petition -through tho consultative committee to the Supreme Court which tried him, and on the recommendation of tho committee and the judge tho Governor will decide whether he ia to be set at liberty. The establishment of a habitual ciiminals ward at New Plymouth will, we are informed, be of a temporary character.

An emergency meeting of members of the Wellington No-Licenso League will be held in tho Baptist schoolroom, Vivian-street, to-morrow evening. It is a costly thing to refuse to pay a tram conductor tho proper fare for a car ride. One man who so refused recently waa in court to-day fined ss. with 7s coeta. Even a £»b might'have cost less. A meeting of those interested in Mr. Fleteher'n candidature at the Harbour Board election will be held this evening at Messrs Thomiton and Brown's room*. Mr. (i. Shirteliffe announces himself as a candidate for a seat on the Wellington Harbour Board. His views on various questions are set out in our advertising columni.