FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1920. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1920, Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1920. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Prison Reform.*— The Dominion lias seen many retrograde enactments during the term of the Reform Government and it is a welcome exception to the rule to find this • country . initiating a real reform in connection with the prisons. A telegram yesetrday intimated that the i-cgulatious provided for in legislation passed last session empowering wages to be paid prisoners doing terms of hard labour by the Prisons Department have been now approved by the Executive, and these will, when enforced shortly, enable prisoners to provide for their dependents and earn something for themselves. Tlie very thought in the mind of a prisoner that he is able to earn something in this manner will mean a big improvement in his environment, and one of the bcsl kind, as it will bo a minil stimulant. Heretofore the idea that his unrequited labour was merely a punishment, rather than a benefit, must liavc been an adverse factor in the life of nearly every prisoner. Especially helpful to the man with dependents should the reform prove to be, as he can with diligence and good conduct take advantage of it to help them in a substantial way. It ln^s been recognised throughout the world that the old prison regime has proved a rotten, system, one calculated simply to degrace a, maiij and this step towards the light stands to the credit of New Zealand. Many a man no w r orsc at heart than the average finds himself in prison through some temporary aberration, and besides it is beginning to be seen that oven in the case of the worst criminals helpfulness should replace the old harshness and helplessness. And self-help is the best help; so that the provision to enable hard-working prisoners to gain something for themselves from the product of their labours "is one decidedly in the right direction. They are u'oav entitled each a minimum of 15/- per day, and this may be increased, if the work is considered satisfactory up to 7/-, at the end of a month ,and to S/-, after the second month. Competent tradesmen, and others whose work is of special value 1 to the department are to receive an additional 2/-' per day. The cost oi the prisoner's maintenance and supervision by the warders is to be deducted from his earnings, so that he or his dependents will receive in cash only half of the above rates. Prisoners arc to be employed very largely at agrrcultural work. Their wage is nowise equal to the current wage of farm workers, being only 24/- for a six-tlay wcekj pius the meagre prison rare. But it is a notable improvement on the usual practice of depriving a> prisoner of all hope of providing anything i oward the sustenance of his family. A Particular Case?— Another prison reform has been that permitting the Prisons Board to remit part of the sentences of such prisoners as may. Ijo deemed fit and proper subjects for puch treatment. We note an instance of the eexreise of this power in the case, of the prisoner Roberts, who was sentenced in connection with the case known as the "Silver Grid Mu'rdpr"' in Christchurch eleven years ago. There was question as to the prisoner's san-

ity, and the board nas now decided to further modify a sentence modified once already.. In view of the clemency, it is rather hard to understand the delay in extending similar treatment tc a case which we believe to be popularly regarded as even more deserving. We refer to the imprisonment of the woman Alice Parkinson, in whose case adverse circumstances were the main factors. The action of the jury Uy whom she was convicted in afterwards petitioning for her release showed hers a uniquely deserving case for special consideration, and the New Zealand Labour Party, and more especially its leader, have made strong endeavours to move successive Governments to review her sentence and accord her a release. The decision iri*hie other case we have mentioned is more than a precedent for. her release. It is indeed an adverse commentary upon her continued incarceration. It would have been fitting and humane that a woman should have been the first to benefit by this particular reform, and we trust she yet may prove to bo the first beneficiary. Credit for a humane reversal of the wicked traditions attaching to prisons administration is duo to the authorities wh ( o v arc directing our reformative institutions. Readers of such books as ' ' Robbery Under Arms, ' ' "For the Term of His Natural Life," and " It } -s Never Too Late to Mend" as well as Dickens 's works, are familiar with the hopeless atmosphere that has in past generations deliberately been thrown round unfortunates who oftener than, not have been the victims of a bad environment. In these days when not a few criminals in high places continue to wield a free hand, it is hopeful to see that old injustices to social derelicts and outcasts are beginning to be recognised and rectified. A Neglected Industry.— A correspondent writes to point out that while many bags of cauliflowers and vegetables are at present being imported from Canterbury and elsewhere to . the West Coast, there should be really no need to import these. He states: — I am aware the gardeners in Nelson and Canterbury had latterly a good harvest, with the result that on the Coast their cauliflowers are selling at "from 2/6 to 4/- per head, whereas in years past Coast-grown cauliflowers sold extensively at from 1/- to 1/6 .per large head. As an experienced cultivator I can say the Coast land is better adapted for market gardening than that either of Canterbury or Nelson ,and with up-to-date culinal knowledge almost any vegetable crop could be raised here in prolific fashion. Thousands of cauliflower plants — indeed as many as SOO0 — could be raised pei acre heT.c, where is a mild, moist climate, as against scorching nor '-westers that prevail in Canterbury. Among the things that could, with a big profit, be raised on the Coast in a way to compete easily with outside places are green peas, lettuce, asparagus, radishes, onions, cabbage, potatoes, leeks, parsnips, rhubarb, carrots, beet, and celery. These are standard lines foi which a ready Coast sale is always available. Land well suited for all these is to be had all over the counties of Grey and Westland, and it is remarkable that we import so mucn more of our requirements in these lines as year susaeeds year. When shows used co be hoid for vegetables more extensively than nowadays, there used to be splendid exhibits. All that is needed is efficient direction in -the way to lay out and cultivate, and this I would be pleased, as one experienced thoroughly, to supply to anybody, should you, on their inquiry refer them to me. 1 think it a pity and not a good^ sign tor the Coast that our people- should neglect gardening that is of practical utility to the community. Moreover, there is in this field scope for a most profitable local industry, and I hope to see tangible proof of v at some not distant dayi * Sugar Alone or Sugar Et Cetera? — One unfortunate consequence of the manner in which the Government lias made' an incursion into the business of sugar dealing has been the method of distribution through individual dealers. This method is one that, in the nature of things as they exist to-day, leaves open loopholes for discrimination In favour of one and against "another. The fact is offers of plenty of sugar should not be made to a needy consumer as an inducement to transfer his patronage from any. one firm to any other ,or at least, from a firm dependent for sugar upon a distributor to a firm that is not dependent upon any > other distributor except the Govern-' ment. We are sure the Government never intended its experiment in State enterprise as a sugap: purveyor should become a lever in the hands of anyicalcr to secure business in commodities other than sugar. Admittedly there is a' temptation, and also a certain measure of discretion to be allow--2d to distributors, but there should vhile tho present ararngement eu,hvrcs be sought some ready means of sxercising a check. Through the re- i ailcrs the general public is directly ;oncerned. That the consumer should Lot- be constrained to supply his geniral needs otherwise than he would hoosc, in consequence of the method dopted in handling one commodity is urely a- fair and reasonable stipulation o insist upon. In making these relarks, -we merely mean to point out he necessity for great prudence on he Board of Trade's part, arid for its earing in "mind that serving the public nterest is one thing and serving pxiate interests is quite anothesr. Another Distribution Question.— 'osy indeed is the picture which the apitalist paints for- tlie worker when ailing for more production. It is a rospect to charm — but only a prosect, or, if that has any greater clelent of reality ,it might be called a lir&ge. The nearer the worker ap-

proaches to the margin of production at which the capitalist aims, the more the heavenly prospect vanishes into thin air. Or, rather instead of a coat of many colours in which to deck himself ,the toiler finds the sack. The capitalist never kno\yn till it is too late how near production is to the margin which he denominates over-produc-tion. He first tells the worker distribution is a thing that doesn't come into the picture yet. This is when there is what he calls under-produc-tion. The lure to produce more that is dangled before the eye of the worker is that the more there is to share, the larger will be the share of each and all. But as soon as there is plenty to share and to- spare, the capitalist worries no' more about production — and 4he worker — but thinks only about distribution-r-and the consumer. What didn't matter at all before is now the critical question. The goods nave been delivered, but . the worker is told that his share in the transaction has ended ,and has really nothing to do with distribution at all- that while he is responsible for the' production, the' capitalist sJone is concerned m th e distribution. Thus tlie wool pools combine to regulate distribution so that the share of production ' going to the worker shall be as small as possible, and the share going to the capitalist as large as possible. At our own vaunted' T "* ** in ™*»tion of the 21 T «.* r r ° US distrib^ion that £*at the limit of more production, was there such a hoarding of tore had we ,so much^wool! And the boots! They are her< in plenty and are even cheaper The boot workers are getting the sack! Ihe logical Tosult of ]U ore production -dor <„p italisiil can be statGd "^ word-unemployment. The workers' share is too often j ust the sack. Everything says the capitalist is mutable in 'ins changeable world but one-profits are the sole eternal verity, the law and tnc prophets of capital." Just now there i S| a loud capitalistic propaganda about more production. The capitalist contribution- thereto is merely gas. And it's a kind that <nves »o light. It's like black damp in a mine. No end of figures are quoted, but all the propaganda in the world will not raise a bit of coal from underground. What is wanted is l ess propa . ganda and more miners. NAd the only way to secure more workers is to make the work attractive enough to entice men to the mines. The mines are nearly all undermanned. It is SU g. ?ested now to offer some sort of bonus to miners for an extra output. Does not this, prove that there is insufficient labour. It has therefore got to foe reeognisotl that more labour can be sgHired only by -making the conditions better for .-ill miners, rather than perhaps a few who take a fancy to speed-ing-up methods. Why should not the mining of. one ton of coal be worth as much as that of another? It should" be recognised to mine even one ton a miner has to undergo certain things that most men prefer not to undergo. The occupation itself is quite plainly :m- exceptional one, and there is no justice or decency about the howl that comes, without cessation, from capitalists about more production in the mines. The only thing the railers want Is coal, and they don't care about how they get it provided they do get it. The I^waddle .they talk about the benefits of more prod/iction is bunkum 1 , whether sincere or insincere. There is a refusal to recognise that mining underground away from, the sunlight is an abnormal and an objectionable occupation compared with the great majority of other occupations. Only that many miners arc miners because their economic environment left them no alternative to mining, the howl for more production in the mines woula.be louder still, because there would be fewer miners still. Many youths go into the mines and- remain there because they get no chance to better themselves, but if the bad conditions are not rectified, and the hours shortened, then this method of recruitment will fail in the end. There is talk of more machinery and more immigrants, but the workers are not as imprudent as they used to bo. They have analysed capitalism, have found out it is but another name for exploitation, and they refuse to submit when they feel they need no longer do so. The workers have been getting together and learning for a long time, and the exploiters' game is up. If the people '.vho amuse themselves telling others to work harder do not come^ willingly down realities, then they will bo forced to do so. Because a man has worked in grime and darkness, that has not made him less a man, and when he sees other men shun his occupation, and hears some of them telling him the Government stroke is only for them and not for him, he naturally wants to know the reason why.- Coal is coal those days, and the miner is the one indispensable factor, after centuries of subjection, and he knows it, and it i g about time the capitalists admitted they know it 'too.