GIRLS' REFORMATORY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 32, 7 August 1919, Page 8

GIRLS' REFORMATORY

PROPOSED INSTITUTIONS

Last session, the Minister of Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford) succeeded in placing on the Statute book an amendment to the Reformatory Institutions Act, 1909,' which provided, inter alia, that the Governor-General may, by proclamation declare any building or place to be a State Reformatory Institution. This Act gives the Minister of Justice power at any time, by order under his hand to transfer to a State- reformatory institution, or reformatory home, any female prisoner detained in prison for a term whereof not more than two years remains unexpired. An attempt was made by the Ministes of Justice to ob : tain Te Oranga Home at Christchurch for this purpose, but for good and sufficient reasons it has been found impos.sible.jV; . ,' - : ■■'■'■■.■'■ At the end of June this year, the Auckland Conference of Social Workers, representing all branches of church and social work in the city, including Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of ' England, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, non-aectarian social workj etc., considered this Act and the known attitude, of the Minister of Justice, in regard to young girls who were first offenders. The conference wrote to the,Minister of Justice',' stating : "Our conference feels Hhat tfie matter brought forward by you requires earnest attention, and hopes that fiuch institutions as are provided for under* your Act will be set up as half-way houses." The conference further statedithat it believed that such houses would be of .inestimable value to the social life of the community. Sister Douglas, the honorary secretary of the Auckland Social Workers' Conference, pointed out that the establishment of the special detention houses for young female offenders was absolutely necessary in the'opinion of the conference, and she said that the city .--'of Auckland v could jiiot do without the help, of the Door of Hope, and the Salvation Army, as these institutions provided accommodation for young girls who were on remand. .•'...■.,• The; Minister stated,to-day that it is his intention to ask the Governor-Gen-eral to proclaim the State reformatory institutions in Auckland, Cbristchurch, Wellington, and Duhedin. In re_gard to ' Chri9tchurch he said he believed it would be possible to make the women's prison, at Addingtoh the first State reformatory ''institution foT young girls, and to find accommodation elsewhere for the. hardened' women, criminals! reserving that institution, .which is eminently -suitable for the purpose, for young girl first offend«re, ■' as'f a- reformatory. The Minister proposes visiting, Christchurch as soon as .possible, with 'the Inspector of Pris^ Shis, to decide this question finally.