PRISON LABOUR AND ROAD-MAKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 7

PRISON LABOUR AND ROAD-MAKING.

TO THE EDITOR. . Sir,—While reading an article in your paper of the 10th inst. on the neglected North I felt that the South Island is the Premier's paradise. We cannot expect anything to be done for the North respecting roads, but I would iiuggest a plan that could lx! worked profitably to the Government and the settler. We have some able-bodied men in our prisons doing work that is of little or no profit to the colony; yet the net cost for each prisoner amounts to £i 9 4s 6d for , the year 1900. No one can gainsay that our present Government are wasteful and extravagant, and, with the exception of a few, , of very limited brain power, or they would try some scheme by which our roads in the . North and South could be made by our pri- . sonera, which would yield a better return to J the State than quarrying stone for prison accommodation. Allow me to make a suggesI tion. Let the Government send prisoners I serving a sentence of more than one month '. in gangs, under the supervision of warders ', and some of our military regulars to assist . in looking after the prisoners while the men . are at work, and to keep sentry at night \ in case of any attempting to escape. If , this were done the roadless North would be a 1 thing of the past very shortly.—l am, etc., , Panmure. ' W. Moeoan.