PRISON REFORM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 8

PRISON REFORM

• , .A* a result of hie conference with the gaolers^ in charge of the various prisons, the Minister in charge of the Department (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) hopes to •introduce reforms to secure improvements in prison management and increased efficiency. In a reference to the subject, the Minister said that the conference had shown him that conditions now existed which handicapped, to eorne extent, all eiforte to give practical effect to the excellent scheme initiated by his predecessor in office, Sir John Findiay — a scheme which embodied the mont sekntiiie, humano, and rational methods of dealing with criminal*. At present each prison had all classes of prisoners to deal with. He was, in fact, informed that it was practically impossible to carry out proper vJaesification with tho buildings and yards now available. _ The present staffs appeared insufficient to exercise proper supervision, ahd there was a lack of suitable employment for the different classes of prisoners. Then there was need of instructing gaolere as to the particular kind of reformative treatment required. Complaints were being made on the part of wme prisoners sentenced to reformative treatment that they were dealt with in the same mann»r as men sentenced 'to hard labour, and these would have to be looked into. He thought it was necessary that the efficiency of the prisons should be stiffened up, and that proper provision should be made for the training of wardens and. those who would in future be the managers of reformative institutions. The discipline enforced must be wholesome, and at the same time not overdiluted with " milk of Tinman kindness."

Alderman E. B. Hartley will lecture in ■the Assembly Hall, Johnwuviilp, to-mor-row night, on "What i-; Tliis Sooiali-tni''"' MeSPi'tf. -E. Joliftßlon ;iu(l Co. adi'ei-iw-particuiar-> of a sale of household furniture, to bp held by them on the premise*). No. 143, Tat-man-slreet, to-morrow, at 1.30 o'clock. On Wediipsday, commencing at 1 o'clock, they will hold a sale of ♦hree hundred and seventy lots of furniture, also fifty bttinple hearthrugs hi their rooms. On tho -same day, ut 1.30 o'clock, tli«*y will submit to auction a. UtJW