BORSTAL HUMANELY CONDUCTED

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 11

BORSTAL HUMANELY CONDUCTED

SUJEMEHT BY CONTROLLER-.-GENERAL [P ,n United Truss Association-.] WELLINGTON, May 2. Questioned respecting the alleged illtreatment of an escaped Borstal inmate liv warders when captured at Invercargill recently, Mr B. L. Dallard (Con-troller-General of Prisons) said that arrangements had been made lor a departmental inquiry to be held by Mr G. Cruickshank, stipendiary magistrate, at Invercargill. Mr Dallard remarked that he did not care to prejudice the case, hut the reports received indicated that the affair had been grossly exaggerated. In order to reassure tho relatives of inmates and others who would naturally be disquieted at the published reports, Mr Dallard said that ho could state without fear ot contradiction by anyone competent to express an opinion that the Borstal Institute at Invercargill had been run during the past few years on the most enlightened and humane lines, calculated to develop in the majority ot the inmates _ a sense of self-respect and responsibility. He mentioned that prior to these recent escapes there had not been a single escape for over twelve months. When the wide extent to which the inmates arc on trust was considered he said this alone spoke volumes. “The superintendent of tho institution at Invercargill is a man who has the complete respect and confidence of the inmates, and he has the interests of the lads thoroughly at heart,” Mr Dallard added. ‘.‘l can say definitely that such treatment as that alleged is entirely foreign to the present policy of tho administration.”