DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 20, 23 July 1909, Page 3

DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED.

LAND SETTLEMENT AND PRISON REFORM. [BY TELEGRAPH — PHESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDTN. 22nd July. Tn the course of an interview to-day the Hon. Dr. Findlay mad*> some interesting statements regarding land settlement and prison reform. He said the Government is at present offering 400 sections of, say, 200 acres, which are to be opened under the land for settle ments improved regulations. Under these, a settler will be paid the standard rate of wages for bringing the first 50 acres of his holding into profitable occupation. He will further have an advance from the State of a sum of money to asoist him to build a home. These sections will be opened for public selection only. The conditions will be that sections must be occupied or they will be forfeited. No rent will be paid for the first fifteen months, so that the State is practically offering to a man who has nothing but his labour immediate opportunity of becoming a small farmer. This system should be extended and every reasonanle encouragement given to induce a proper class of small settler to enter upon these farms. A total area of Crown land tinder all tenuies of 1,530,129 acres has been settled since 1906. The area at present advertised for settlement is 108,000 acres, while 98,000 acres will do advertised before the ena of August. Speaking on the subject of prison reform, the Minister said the work of prison reform is being pushed on steadily. Steps are being taken to find a leally suitable superintendent for the reformatory farm at Takanui. "The classification at wnich we aim," said Dr. Findlay, "is : (1) Piofessionul criminals and incorrigible vagrants ; (2) habitual drunkards , (3) insane and epileptic criminals j (4) corrigible criminals ; and (5) presumptive criminals. Corrigible criminals (men chiefly from 16 to 30 years of age, who, while not first gftenders, and consequently releasable on probation, have still not yet become confirmed criminals) must be treated in reformatories. These reformatories should have both an agricultural and an industrial character. They will combine tree-planting stations, where I propose to introduce a number of important improvements, and reformatory farms, where not only all kinds of fanning will be taught, but where at least elementary knowledge of such trades as blacksmithing, carpentering, and similar useful industrial information will be imparted. The agricultural reformatory will probably be graded into three classes. Those committed will enter in the second class, and may for bad conduct be reduced to tho first, or for good conduct promoted to the third. There will be different treatment and different privileges, according to class. The proper carrying out of this impioved prison system will involve some changes in tho law to permit indeterminate sentence either absolute or qualified to be employed in cases of what we now call minor offences. It will also be necessary that our warders should understand the true spirit and purposes of reformative treatment."