J.P. Would Send Bench To Prison

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 49, 28 February 1938, Page 2

J.P. Would Send Bench To Prison

An/example of what he called the “monstrous behaviour” of some local benches of J.P.s was given by Mr Leo Page, J.P., addressing the Howard League for Penal Reform in London. Mr Page, who is chairman of the Berkshire Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society, cited the case of a stable boy of 19, who, having lost his job at Newmarket, started to walk to Lambourn with only 4d in his pocket. He came to a village and, penniless by that time and down and out, stole 4s 6d. He was caught and sentenced to one month’s hard labour. “I only' wish I had the power to sentence each of the magistrates on that bench to two months’ hard labour,” was Mr Page’s comment. When the boy came out of prison he was broken down and without hope. A position was found for him by the Prisoners* Aid Society at the stables he had been making for, and he was now doing well. The, enormous proportion of those sent to prison, he added, would not be there it courts knew their work better, and more of human nature.