PRISON LIFE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18220, 7 October 1919, Page 9

PRISON LIFE.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS’ ' EXPERIENCES. There was an. attendance of about fifty in the Trades Hall last night when Messrs F. R. Cooko, N. Goldsbury, R. O. Page and N. M. Bell gave addresses on “ New Zealand Prisons From Within.” Mr A. Borrows, who presided, said that statements had been published in regard to the Dominion's prisons that were untrue. Ho knew from Ids own experience, for instance, that the food at Paparua Prison was not as good as tho food at Trentham Camp. Tho food at Trentham was clean, well cooked and wholesome. Mr Cooko said that he got into gaol in order to see what went on thereSome of the worst criminals of tho country had been concentrated at Lyttelton. Some were unfortunate. Some had been spoilt by the present system of education. Tho conditions and the treatment in the gaols were fit for wild beasts, but not for human beings. Mon of a low cast of mind should not be congregated with other men. It was an unhealthy system, and those who enforced it did not understand education or human nature.

Mr Page said that the “c.o.’s” objected mainly to the prison rules and regulations; not to prison administration. His experience was largely at Paparua, where the work was of a more or less interesting nature. At the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, it was very monotonous. Prisoners at Paparua received only id a day for erecting cottages that were admired by visitors. In Japan prisoners were paid standard wages lor their work. Prisoners in New Zealand also should he paid standard wages, in order that they might save something for the time when they were released, instead of having to face the alternative of starving or going back to gaol. A reporter" wrote airily of the furniture at the big building at Paparua. As a matter of fact, It was of the simplest character. The most crying need for reform was in respect to tho long time during which prisoners were confined to their cells. The so-called reformatory treatment was a farce- There certainly should be classes for farming and other subjects at Paparua, and there should bo education in the rights and duties of citizenship. Tale-bearing and espionage, which were a sure road to favour, were a sufficient condemnation of tho present system. Tho gaol punishment methods were obsolete. A limited measure of control should be given to the prisoners themselves, a 1! in some parts of America.

Mr Goldsbury said that prison regulations were absolutely without compassion. His conversations with prisoners had confirmed his opinion that criminals were the outcome of the present system of society It might be necessary to isolate them, but the punishment inflicted seemed to him to be an outrage. He did not think that the ordinary prisonor was below the average in intelligence, and it should bo possible therefore to reform the system. Prison authorities traded on' the fact that prisons were a closed door to the public. Warders were forced to be the prisoners’ natural enemies Publicity was the most urgent need in the Dominion’s prisons, which were State institutions and should be opened to tho public. Mr Bell said that he had been in four prisons, and found that the.worst feature of the system was the monotony of food, work and environment. He thought that prisoners suould be given an opportunity to see the nice flowers and trees while they were exercising, instead of seeing only the walls and a sentinel with a loaded rifle, which was depressing and uncomfortable. Doctors shonld be appointed, gaolers, the whole medical treatment should bo improved, and the prisons should be a brawnh <,.f urn taduceJUas, Department.