PENAL REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 122, 25 May 1928, Page 14

PENAL REFORM

' HOWARD LEAGUE BRANCH The first annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform was held last evening, the Eev. J. Allan occupying the chair in the absence, through illness,' of the president (Sir John Findlay, K.C.). . • ' The chairman said, that the meeting marked the inception of the league's activities in 'Wellington. There had been some question at first as to whether it 'was likely to encroach on the work of other bodies, but it was soou"~found that there was 'real work for the league. It was most important, he said, that a body of citizens, should take an active interest- in matters-relating to penal reform. There was scope in Wellington for-the league to do something in the way of assisting • inmates of the penal institutions, and in this connection the league had a certain field of activity to itself. Offie.ers for the year were elected as under: —President, Sir John Findlay, K.C.; vice-presidents, the Bight Rev.' the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. T. 11., Sprpijt), his Grace ■Archbishop O'Shea, :Mrsi*!S|)X<*t^)-;§Jr, John Luke;'-Messrs. r.G. A. L. Treadweil ilandi P. Frasor, ALP.; psychological adviser, Erofessor T. A. Hunter; executive coinmittTeO) Mrs. T,. H. Hall, Mrs. Maslen, Miss Magill, Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, Rev.. John Allan, Messrs. A. T. Mac Alpine and A. W. Free; hon. secretary, Mr. E. H. Dowsctt; hori. treasurer, Mr. J. J. Garb'ett. , . ..',. v An int'ei'esbirig outline':of the growth 'of the league was given by Mr. Free. He referred to tho : founder, John Howard, who found conditions in the English prisons \in the eighteenth century so appalling that he set out to have legislation passed to bet tor-the treatment of prisoners. His work could be carried on only by educating public opinion, which was the most powerful force in the world. Mr. Free emphasised that a constant. criticism of the sentences passed in the- Courts was necessary to bring about a more sympathetic treatment of the offenders.