Governor Loved By Convicts

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 181, 3 August 1938, Page 9

Governor Loved By Convicts

SYDNEY, July 2«.

Remarkable scenes were witnessed in the Goulburn gaol when prisoners bade iarcwell to the governor of the institution, Mr. George Smith, who is retiring, by making him presentations at a concert at which they provided they entertainment. Prison and police officials described the ceremony as ‘‘unique in penal history.** All the members of the gaol orchestra are men who, it is intended, shall never know freedom again. They have been sentenced to the term of their natural lives for murder. They played a dedicatory Trio Andante in G Major, composed in the governor's honour by one of the convicts sentenced for murder. This man did not know a note of music when sent to the gaol some years ago. He played both piano and ’cello with marked mnsicianship.

The governor called the prisoners 4 ‘my men.” He said that he and the prisoners understood each other. Humanitarianism would redeem any human problem. The Inmates’ “Helper.’*

In several addresses during the afternoon, prisoner speakers called Mr. Smith “our helper,” and Mrs. Smith they styled “his dear wife.” Before the concert started, one of the convicts asked permission to see the governor and his wife. He was taken to the office, and presented Mr. Smith with a fine hand-turned and polished wooden stud case, and Mrs. Smith with a wooden powder bowL They had taken him three months to make. When admitted to the institution three years ago he had been described by officials as “an intractable animal.” At intervals through the concert, the prison bell clanged in the yard outside, and the convicts came and went about their duties, £ongs, a conjuring act •with the “magician” remarking drily: “It is necessary to have a bit of jewellery, but unfortunately there is not much in this line about at present,” a pianist, the orchestra, & ventriloquist, and a banjoist were the chief contributors to the programme. A highlight was a convict's singing of “My Task,” to organ accompaniment. The singer up to recently had been officially described as 4 * an almost demented idiot.” Sense of Separation.

The announcer asked No, <SS to make a speech. “I want to express our deep feeling of regret at the governor’s retirement,” said GS. “Through his administration he did so much to lessen the burden of less fortunate men. We feel, too, best feelings of gratitude to his dear wife, and we men hope they will be spared to long life, health, happiness and prosperity.’* “The demonstration to-day exemplifies for all time that humanitarianism will redeem any human problem,” said the governor in reply. “These men would not do this and I would not be standing here, if we did not understand each other. These men know someone Las to be in charge. If they know that the man is trying to do his best for the good of all, they develop generosity enough to appreciate it, and are not ashamed to show it. No institution can exist without discipline, but discipline cannot be administered without understanding. I look forward to my retirement with trepidation, sorrow, and a growing sense of separation. But these traditions are not going to die. Once you start a system on the right lines, and givo it sufficient emphasis, it is going to take a devil of a lot of opposition to destroy it.”