ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN. Published Every Morning. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1910. PRISON REFORM.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 965, 17 March 1910, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1875. Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Conducted by E. D. HOBEN. Published Every Morning. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1910. PRISON REFORM.

•The scheme of. prison reform wliicli tile Hon. Dr. Findlay, as Minister for Justice has annoucned his determination of introducing, appears to be based upon the Hues which have been fouutl wise by the experience of modern criminology, in. whioh the' reformatory element is always considered before the'pnnitive, There Will no donbt have to/be modification of details in praotice, but the general principles are good, and as the Minister himself iudioates, a somewhat similar soheme lias profed of very great value in New South Wales where it has reduced the gaol population and the amount of orirne materially, led to' genuine reform, and very gieatly reduced the cost to the honest taxpayer. Probably public opinion has been better eduoated on these matters now, but one great obstacle in the way of reducing the cost to the taxpayer hitherto lias been the oonstaflt opposition offered in certain quarters to the disposal of prison-made goods in the open markets. .We have bail some bad examples of it in New Zealand, but the most glaring of all was the destruction of a most promising' native marble industry .at Bathcrst, New South Wales, booause a handful of marble workers in Sydney objected to maiitlepieces and the like being made in prison. In Dr. Findlay's soheme there are to be two types of reformatories, agricultural and industrial, though both will probably be on the same land, viz., suitable farms of 12U0 aores or so, accessible yet removed from centres of population. Then there is to bo further development of prison oamps snoli as have done suoh good treeplanting work.. These oamps have been adversely critioised by the New South Walqs authorities, whose lead in other things is being followed, because or the herding of tho prisoners, especially at night when they are shut in together. The best criminological experience is decidedly against such collective confinement. Stories have been given to Australian gaol authorities by prisoners who served in New Zealand oamps whioh point to the need of very mnoli stricter supervision than the system lias so far rendered possible, It may bo that rigorous classification baok tor misconduct as well as forward for virtue, suoh as is contemplated,may oorreot Borne of these evils. Similar evils have been alleged to exist in the Lytteltou Gaol. Prisoners are to be utilised for swamp draining, quarrying, brickmabing, oeaient making, tieeplanting, fruit and vegetable growing, bootmaking, tin making, and generally useful works, and suitable prisoners will also bo given educational advantages to enable thein to understand' aooounts aud correspondence, to make themselves clearly understood in English and understand standard authors. The consideration on these points is to raise the standard of intelligence in criminals who are so through ignorance, PUBLIC OPINION.

With regard to the extension of industrialism, and the consequent reduction of the burthen to the State as well as the better employment of the prisoners' time,we are wholly in accord, and trust that the general public feeling will prevent the'sueoess of any attempt to mar progress in that direction. Apart altogether from the open market, there will be many industries, especially when the compulsory training system is at work, in whioli prison labour could snpply the Government and institutional needs generally, to the considerable advantage of the State, but the suocess of any such soheme from a reformatory point of view, really rests upon the intelligence and efficiency of the classification and administration. Classification lias to deal with institutions, individuals, crime, and qonduot subsequent to conviction, and this is how it is proposed to classify under the different heads

1. Professional oriminals. 2. Sexual perverts, 3. Criminals of unsound mind 4. Drunkards. 6. Incipient ami pseudo oriminals, (>. Incorrigible oriminals, 7. The rest of ihe criminal class, Females. 8. Incorrigible. 10. Incipient ami pseudo criminals. 11. Oriwinaals of unsound mind. These various types of prisoners are tliou re-classed in grades, according [to character and conduct, and they are dealt with in institutions of the following olasses:— 1. Pouinetiarioß for the detention of criminals enumerated in olass 1. 2. Criminal asylum for classes 2, 8, and 11. 8. An inebriate institution for incorrigible drunkards. 4. Reformatories for olass 6. 5. Oamps. 6. An institution equipped 'as a penitentiary aud a reformatory for classes 8 and 9. 7. Private institutions for classes I), 10, and the occasional aud liabitnals of class 4. Suoli a soheme if well worked oat must mate for good, and the provisions as to the extended use of indeterminate sentences will permit of revision by experts in which good conduct and industry will be the determining factors, aud where there will be monetary recompense for special industry as well as promotion in grado the incentives are all for the prisoner to get ojit of the slough.

INEBRIATES. An important section deals with inebriates Drunkards are to bo classified iu four degrees, ranging from "casuals," who get drunk at rare intervals, to "incorrigibles," who, besides being habitual drunkards, combine minor offenoes with their drunkenness. "Casuals" will be dealt with by fining. "XJocasionals" are committed by the Magistrate to the oustody of a Probation Officer, whose duty it is to see that his oharge reports himself every evening not later than a prescribed iiour at the institution of which the Probation Officer has oharge. The offendei remains in the institntiou all night, and leaves after breakfast in the . iuorniug, provided that lie \m occupation to go to. His, wages are not paid to himself, but to his wife. or a receiving officer, as the Magistrate thinks lit and directs. The first charge against his wages is for the cost of lub board aud lodging at the institution. As the offender gains the confidence of the Probation Officer and pioves himself worthy of trust, the officer has power to report to the Magistrate that Ins oharge is worthy of a relaxation of disciplinary oversight, and, authority being given,, he allow the offender to Bleep ! at his own home on one or more specified nights in the week. If this privilege is abused, the Probationary Officer can summarily withhold it, reporting his aotion as soon aB possible to the Magistrate for endorsement. An habitual drunkard is admitted to a tefrm of probation under more stringent regulations, He is oommitted to the Probation Offioer, who keeps him in olose detention, giving him only suoh liberty as he may deem' expedient, submitting to the Magistrate a report of the conditions of the foim of detention imposed. The Magistrate will endorse the report or otherwise aooording to Mb discretion. Incorrigible drunkards are committed to imprisonment in the State inebriate institution,, whore they will have to undergo the discipline of what is really a prison camp though confined to thu one type of offender and will be employed, in fruit and vegetable raising, farming, eta., and medically and otherwise treated for periods of not less than 12 months or till reformed. Altogether the Bolieme appears to be comprehensive and thorough, like all suoh schemes, open to orifioism of details, ought to prove of decided benefit.