DISCHARGED PRISONERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 6

DISCHARGED PRISONERS.

QUESTION OF EMPLOYMENT.

COMPLAINT OF INJUSTICE

WELLINGTON, June 9. One of the representations made to the Minister of Justice, arising out of the remits passed at the annual conference of the JuslV.es of the Peace Association, was in regard to the nonemployment by Government departments of persons who had been in prison. ’ . Mr A. J. Stratford said that the Justice Department did not employ persons who had been in gaol. The association felt it was hardly fair to punish a man twice. The Minister, Hon. T. M. Wilford, said he knew of many cases where men had been discharged and had made good in new positions, reaching places of responsibility and trust. Mr I. Salek instanced a case of a man who had been discharged from the Railway Department because it was found that he had served a term of imprisonment.

Mr Wilford: Did you believe it? Mr Salek: I found it is a rule of the department not to employ a man who has been in prison. The Minister: I would not believe it.

Mr Salek said he thought that a man who had been discharged from prison should not be prevented from earning an honest living. The Minister: Only 8 per cent, of those who leave the Borstal institutions ever return to gaol. That is worth thinking about. Replying to the deputation the Minister said that for very good reasons the Justice Department did not knowingly employ convicted persons, and he did not think it should be done in the Police Department. However, he had no information about other departments.