NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 6 April 1909, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

THE REFORM SCHEME, [United Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, Monday. The Government has decided on an advanced scheme of prison reform. This afternoon Dr. I'indlay stated that the Wanganui nnd Hokitika gaols are to be closed, and possibly one or two other small prisons. This will result in the saving of a very large sum of money annually. The Government proposes .■ to establish reformatory farms, possibly one in each island to begin with. The idea is to get the young men now in prison to turn to some honest employment when they are released, and the agency of the Labour Department's officers will be used to assist in the object. Dr Kindlay estimates that the prisoners at the : I tree planting camps (allowing for the ' worth of their labour) maintain them I selves, and Lave a balance of £15 4s 3d. , I

= I Miss Mamie Stuart, a former Gaiety actress, was awarded £250 damages in ; the Law Courts, London, says the "Daily Express," againsl Messrs Sherek and I'rntf, iheatric.ii agents, who had entered into a contract on her behalf fur her apr er.rance at the Uuenos Aires Casino Music Hall. She asserted : that Messrs Sherek and Braffhad de- I scrib d the music-hnli to her as a high- j c'a«s place jt entcrtaii.ment, but that ' when she r.rrived at Buenos Aires she : found it was nuite the opposite. In sum- j ming up the Lord Chief Justice declnr- i ed he thought a great deal was said too : lightly ab Kit the charact irs ni per- | formers. "Th'-y are indott'otediy cX- i posed to great temptation?," he Ftated, ) i "but th.<re is no reasoi. to beiieo: that ; they are less to be respected than other : people from the oint of view of telling ■ the truth. A music hall i.- a music-hall, ami wuiu-ii di. anpi'ir (lure ii .ight .•0.-i:ir.i..-. .iiicl make <rr-nire- v.lii.h v.c ih'-.iild h..c like ain.nV r au c.-.vn dau.Lfhi.i.. llu; jn ' bciau=p tliey app.-.'n' v, an .ituicpliere in which, :>s we l;ii.iw. some ooplc object, and thinti.go winch, perlißps, you would 'l'mt like , in your own homes— this does not prevent these people Idling the truth 1 hnpo there is less hanging about the wiii'.s .if theatre- than then- used to 1.c." I