PRISON CAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 11

PRISON CAMPS

JUDGE'S WARNING

ESCAPADES BY NIGHT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, This Day. Prisoners were sentenced by Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court today. For breaking and entering and theft at Taylor's store, Turangi, Hugh Simons was sentenced to two years' hard labour, and for mischief he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Harry Wharepapa, who participated in the offence at the store, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment, and was given six. months' imprisonment for mischief. In both cases the terms were ordered to be concurrent but to be cumulative with sentences the prisoners are at present serving. His Honour remarked that it had been suggested as an excuse that the food was of bad quality at the prison camp, but he wanted to make it plain that the Court was nof'conducting an inquiry into the administration of prison camps. It was concerned only with whether the prisoners were guilty of the offences. The Court had not heard in reply the evidence of prison officials, and.the prisoners must understand that if they had any cause for complaint it should have been made through the proper channels to the visiting Justices of the Peace, who were not part of the ordinary administration. It was quite clear that the prisoners were not starving.

"The prisoners should reflect that it may be as a result of these crimes that the liberty given to prisoners in these camps may be curtailed," added his Honour. "The jury's rider has been forwarded to the Minister ot Justice, and no doubt steps will be taken to see that the resident storekeepers in the district will be protected from the escapades of prisoners by night."