NO MORE GAOLS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 April 1928, Page 5

NO MORE GAOLS

TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS. POLICY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. •‘New South Wales will never build another gaol,” declared an official ol the Justice Department the other day, speaking with ample authority. “Me are more likely to close several of the existing gaols and if we do we wid build weather proof huts in their place..” The Minister of Justice (Mr. Lee) has been giving a great deal of attention to prison reform, and under his policy it seems that prison camps will be developed on an extensil e scale, it is explained in support of this that the number of prisoners necessarily confined within high walls and cells is very small. Records have shown that the ordinary offender, whose crime was not of a violent nature, is not a bad sort of fellow, ahd worthy of being given every kfhance to jma-ke good, instead of shutting him up in a cell before 4 o’clock each day, the idea is to give him as much fresh air as-pos-sible, good food, and, above all, good hard work. “Treat- him as a human being,” is the Minister’s idea, “and not as a wild beast. Let him see some result for his labour, and gradually you evolve pride in his work.” At "one of the forestry camps alreadyestablished some of Die prisoners ll such a term is applicable—are undergoing life sentences. With every facility to escape only one man has tried to do so. So satisfied is the department with the -success already achieved that at least two more prison camps will he established. The camps will he under the control of the Prisons Department, but- the field operations will he directed by the Forestry Department, and so a double purpose will be achieved. Could anything be more happily combined —on the one hand rehabilitating lost self-control and self-respect, on the other, renewing denuded' forests ? New South Wales is also considering extensive plans for the training of delinquent children. Under the proposals various branches now dealing ; with ward and neglected children will he co-ordinated and the department proposes to take the power to continue control until the bov or girl reaches the age of 21. It is hoped that the training they receive will be of such n nature that they will so out into the world well equipped for life’s battle and capable of becoming useful '•it-izons.