PAPARUA PRISON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18237, 27 October 1919, Page 9

PAPARUA PRISON.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—ln regard to the Paparua Prison, I have been visiting minister for the Church of England nt that prison for a year, paying weekly visits. I have been given unhampered access to any part of the prison and to any prisoner, and any prisoner who desired could interview' me with no warder to overhear. What tho Ilev P. N. Knight reported the committee to have found, on tho occasion of their visit, I have found regularly and consistently: there never being any sign of “ windowdressing.” Any changes nobionahlo were tlie result of the progress of the prison towards completion or of tlie steady putting into force of the new ideals of prison reform. In every system the human element matters most. From my first visit onwards I have been greatly impressed by the friendly relations between the gaol staff and the prisoners. There were nevor any signs or complaints of bullying; the discipline was good, not stiff and mechanical, but healthy, strong and kindly. Over and over again, from the gaoler down, I have seen evidence that the staff regard their work as primarily a healing work for tho cure of those in their charge. lam sorry that space will not permit me to .give particular instances of this; nor of the great change which tho careful, painstaking methods of the staff have effected in many the prisoners.— I am, etc., T PERCY RE VET/I/. GhrL&tahurdi, October Si.