Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1892.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 195, 29 August 1892, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1892.

The report of Colonol Hurao on tho Prisons of tho Colony, for 1891, shows not merely that crinio is uot increasing, but that with a growing population, it is voi*y sensibly diminishing. At tho beginning of tho yoar -1-95 males ond 07 females wore confined in prison, aud nt tho oud of tho yoar the numbers had fallen to 472 males and 05 females. 1 n 1890, -4-,002 males and 901 females passed through tho jarious prisons, but iu 1891 tho numbers woro 3452 malos and 815 females. During 1891 tho daily avorago of prisoners was 459*22 malcß and 58*39 females, a decrease ou tho daily avoi*a*»o of tho previous yoar of 50*79 malo?, and 0 - 31 fomalcs, Tlio porcoufcago of prisonere to tho whole population for 1891 showed a decided decrease whon compaved with 1990. Thoro is nn increase in the gross cost per head of maintainiug and guarding prisoners, bufc this arises from tho foot that thore are lower of them thau there used to be, aud from ft riße in tho pi'ice of provisions. It costs about as much to guard twenty prisoners as to guard thirty, and this is a oaso in which a reduction of cost por hoad from wholesale doaliug is not advantageous. A comparison of tho numbers of previously convicted prisonors soutonced in 1891 with thoso Bouteuccd iu 1887 shows a decrease of 144 males and 16 foaialeß in tho onco convicted, a deoi'oaso ol 56 males in tho twico convicted, nnd a decroaso of 32 males and nn increaso of 1 fornalo iu thoßo convicted three times or of toner. This, Colouel Humo considers, goes far to provo that the sentences passed upon prisoners aud tho manner iu whioh thoy aro carried out aro deterrent, and tend to provonfc and repress orime. Colonol Humo alludes to tho theory of tho Massaohusetts IMbou Reform Association that people ahould nob bo sont to gaol to be punished for what thoy havo done, but for instruction and elevation. " Tho criminal is to bo taught moral and intelleotual beautieß and refinements that ho novor dreamod of bofore." The prisoners appear to appreciate this treatment, and testimony shows tbat after onoe tasting the delights of prison lifo they aro suro to como again. Colonel Hamo is convinced of fcho wisdom of tho .English system, which as far as possiblo is oarried out in Now Zealand, Tho ohiof poiut of this system is to keop tho prisoners apart, aud bo prevent mutual contamination. In ordor to do this completely it is necessary that eaoh prisoner should havo a separato colJ. Tho expense of courso is considerable, but iu tho ond tho systom ia more economical thau that by whioh all tho inmates of a gaol ai'o uordod togothor with full opportunities of ojohanging notes ou the best methods of carrying ou orirao. Colonel Humo says thab tho First Offenders' Probation Aofc continues to work smoothly and woll. Last year 7-2 poi-Bons camo uudor its provisions, of whom JJO satisfactorily carried out the conditions of their licenses aud woro discharged, 3 woro rearrested and committed bo prison, \ absconded—leaviug 38 Btill uudor supervision. Tho amount of costs ordered to bo paid by the 72 offenders was £179 lie, of which #81 13s 6d has already boou paid, and the remainder is being paid by insfcalmonfcs. Tho number of thoso callod upon to appear aud receive judgment, or who aro knowu to tho polioo to havo beou subsoquoutly convicted of a froshoffeuco, einoo tho bogiuuing cf tho act is ouly 21, or 40*5 por ceut, Thoro aro uo foes like thoso of our bousohold. Foreign wars aro raro, bub a orirnimu class is always preying on Booioty. It is satisfactory lo kuow thab iu this couutry orimo iB on the doorcase, and that tho administration of justico is both firm and judicious— -thab uo tompbation is ollbrod to prisonors to return to gaol, but at the Bame time cruelty of punishment is avoided.