PRISON REFORM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 140, 30 May 1911, Page 1

PRISON REFORM.

N.S.W. IMPROVES HER METHODS. j [PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT]. (Received 30, 8.55 a.m.) Sydney, Maj* 30. , Mr. Holman, N.S.W. AttorneyGeneral, lecturing at the Royal Society, outlined important prison reforms. He said he found hard labour diet inadequate for a strong man ; it would have to be altered. Consumptive prisoners would receive outdoor scientific treatment. In order that prisoners’ wives and families should not suffer, prison-I ers would be compelled to do re- j munerative work, and thus repair the wrong they had done to society. : Government would introduce the 1 experiment of afforestation by ex-; prisoners, as was done in New Zea- \ land, where it had been found : highlj' successful. It was intend- i ed to establish free camps conduct- ; ed by Government, where released i men could go straight from gaol i and earn B.'- a day. This would do : wonders towards a complete re- I formatory system. They’ were arranging for the abolition of the ! Supreme Court circuits iri the ! country, and instead they would send judges shortlj' after a prison- ; er’s commitment on a serious charge, in order to prevent unjust I waiting and congestion of litiga- ‘ tion. In Sjdnej' a Court of Crimi- j nal Appeal would be established. : The Executive will also be relieved : of tlie. duty of deciding whether capital sentences should be carried ' out. Thej’ would transfer the re-! sponsibility to a tribunal of the i Supreme Court Judges, presided ? over by' the Chief Justice. '