UNSEEN WALES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1932, Page 5

UNSEEN WALES

PRISONERS' HONOUR

NEW ZEALAND FARM METHOD

AND DARTMOOR

::;/;;■■ V-;";- (By >'Z.»> .:' ■ < Cablegrams state that an ex-inmate of Dartmoor, interviewed concerning the revolt at; this Devonshire prison, declared:— . - Dartmoor is so dismal that mea would' do anything to escape the terrible monotony of a living death. The walls are so damp that water trickles on the heads of the sleeping convicts. Probably there is no prison system. that has departed entirely from the walled_ prison. In all countries there are prisoners—and prisoners; therefore there is room for prisons—and prisons. The walled and the u'nwallcd co-exist in various countries—in New Zealand, for example. Therefore to admire :one i* not necessarily to attack the other. But the human mind prefers to dwell on the reformative influence of the ,unwalled place- of confinement rather than on the restraining' efficiency of the other type. CONTEABTB. "Unwalled" is perhaps "the wrong word. T_here .are other" walls than, material walls. Bound the .unwalled prison there is a wall of trust—and of disgrace'and loss if trust is broken. There ate unseen-walls. All the' same, it would be hard to imagine a greater contrast than the stone fort of Dartmoor, dating, from Napoleonic times, and a New Zealand prison farm. It is the difference be* tween the dungeon idea and the countryside idea. The outlook of a prisoner breaking in pumice land for farming, with a whole landscape around him and a wide view to-distant horizons, and with little save trust and enlightened self-interest to prevent him breaking bounds, cannot possibly bo the outlook of a prisoner who lives behind walls or walks in narrow limits. , Breaking in land reqnires not only hard work but skill. Some 'of th« workers are specialists. The ploughman, and the tractor man may be or may become the top of their class. Though prisoners, they are playing sv>. big part in the game of life. They are ) not wasting; they are doing something.' "The bigness of the farm and surrounding country," writes'J. O: Stats* ' man in, "Curing the Criminal;" Vcarries 'with it the feeling of confidence and is promotive of the expansion of those higher qualities of manhood which must develop in the process of reformation. To get close to Nature; to till the soil; to plant the seeds and watch them grow into food for stock or man; to know that you are not guarded every moment, but are to some extent your own master, cannot but stimulate the noblest'and best thoughts of which a man is capable. ... Before many years, practically every penal institution will use the outdoor method, which prospect marks an important step, forward, .demonstrating the fact that high stone barriers are toppling and giving way to the invisible walls." SALVAGING* SOtt, AND SOUL. The question is not so,much whether prison systems will get rapidly rid of walls as to what extent they will bo replaced by the onwalled. It is evolution, not revolution. 'Precipitancy iin abolishing walls might not be progress. But there is Teal progress in the steady un-boomed advance of the prison farms. The thousands of acres devoted to thia purpose near Tokaanu and .in other places, have been. an ' ■ economic and sociological success; they 'represent, » salvage both of soil and of ,souX. Agriculture, and penalogy will both admit this. . . ' From some points of view/Dartmoor revealed great efficiency and great selfrestraint. Considering the scale of the outbreak, it is very remarkable that no prisoner escaped, and nono was killed. The ring-wall of riflemen proved escapeproof, but inside it Taiged rebellion, violence, and fire. Yet not one fatal shot was fired. When the time came to overcome the rebel section, it was done with batons. Much might be commended, in the restraints of the Dartmoor authorities. But.wnat is "it that thrills the public? It is this: *f Donovan rushed between. Mr. Turner and a band of convicts armed, with, crowbars. It looked as if < the pair would be killed, but Donovan outfaced them, and displaying the greatest ' pluck, turned the ■ attack. Donovan, with two others, was convicted of murder in 1928, and reprieved an hour before the time of execution. He is now a changed, man. He says that if ever he has the luck to come out of prison, he is going to show people that thera is an Unseen." Always the* pubjic mind hangs on to the hope of the eventual triumph of humanist 'treatment. OPEN AIR CUBE. And now another word from J. O. Stutsman: "It is easy to understand why the penal farm, with the honour system and, semi-autonomous methods, contributes a higher type of parole to society than the old penitentiary system. -The wholesome country air, far removed from the dust'and grime of the city; the exhilarating sunshine, so different from the'dark resounding cell block; the interesting and diversified farm, work, leading to a real love for productive labour; the spontaneity of mind to rehabilitative measures,; the freedom of the outside world, with not walls nearer than the horizon, all contribute to a broader, freer conception of life and its vast possibilities." f 'And' this just sums up what one feels when watching the prisoners at Hantu and Eangipo tackling like men the real work- of .conquering and reclaiming Dumice latidl '