The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. PRISON REFORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14917, 12 February 1909, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. PRISON REFORM.

Tjt.f, public, interested in a general way in tho prison system, arc for tlie most part content to regard tho gaols as places for tho detention of criminals, and although a protesting voice is occasionally raised Parliament* really gives tho matter no serious attention. Tho question of prison reform is difficult and involved. Reports cn experiments elsewhere show that .systems on which high hopes we.ro built have proved expensive, and disappointing, and it is not easy to judge along what lines reform should proceed. In New Zealand wo have hit, almost by accident. cn a very useful and promising expedient, by which tho better-behavecl prisoners may lie removed from tho depressing influence of the gaols and set to valuable work under very healthy conditions. Tho prison camps have proved, on the whole, extremely successful, but the management of the system, we nro .afraid, does not. altogether justify the very flattering tribute paid to it by the Minister of Justice. The administration has been unquestionably lax at times. Proper care has not been taken in tho selection of prisoners for the camps. Men convicted of crimes of violen.ee) have been drafted to the camps, and precautions have not always been taken to protect the property of settlers in tho neighbourhood of the institutions. Without crediting tho sensational stories that were in circulation some time ago, we have had evidence of carelessness on the part of the authorities. Tho camp system is an excellent one, but it must bo administered carefully and supervised closely. Dr Findlay has been so impressed by the results that he proposes now to extend it. Considering tho mature of the work done by the prisoners, tho camps may bo regarded as profitable adjuncts to the gaols. Tree-planting is carried on in barren places, and tho forests now laid out may, in years to come, return the State a fair proportion of the money .spent upon them. In the meantime tho gaols are relieved, and a rough classification of tho prisoners is rendered possible. The question of reform in tho gaol system itself, however, is an extremely difficult one, and the Minister has very wisely decided to take n.o rash step. As a result of his inspection of the prisons wo may perhaps expect some improvement in tho conditions under which criminals are confined. There can bo no relaxation of discipline, but our ideas of healthy conditions havo changed fiinco most of tho gaols were built, and the average cell could with advantage be given more light and fresh air. The idea that the criminal tendency is an evidence of disease is widely, but not universally, accepted, and the conversion of gaols into reformatories is often suggested by writers on criminology. But experience allows that we must move cautiously In this direction. It would bo easy to increase til© cost of prison administration very materially without producing better results in the reform of criminals than nro obtained under the present system. Wo should not object to an increase of expenditure if the Minister is satisfied that there are prospects of good results, and Dr Findlay, of course, is not likely to enter upon a new policy without careful consideration. It is probable that his tour of inspection will even enable him to economise in this Department. At any rate, tlie movement of population of late years suggests that the distribution of the existing prison staff ought to receive liis attention.