HELPING THE FALLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15201, 15 January 1913, Page 5

HELPING THE FALLEN.

PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY.

OVER 30 YEARS OF USEFULNESS.

No matter how trivial the crime or howlight the sentence, a man who has one© suffered imprisonment is, unless helped by friendly hands, tremendously handicapped in finding work. In the universal struggle for existence he will be passed over again and again, until driven to desperation, lie. will finally sink to the lowest rung on the ladder of humanity, and probably end his days as an habitual gaol-bird. On September 25, 1879, a meeting was held at Bishooscourt, Auckland, when the Discharged-Prisoners'.' Aid Society was initiated. ■ Bishop Cbwie, Archdeacons Mannsell and Dudley, the Revs. C. M. Nelson and F. Larkins, with Messrs. J. L. Wilson, J. H. Upton, W. Brakenrig, and F. U. Ewington constituted this newly-formed society, which was at first under the management of the Rev. F. Larkins and Mr. Ewington. , . , • , Time and the hand of death have changed the personnel of the society on which all creeds are Represented Dr Crossley (Anglican Bishop of Auckland.) Sid y Clear! (Roman Catholic Bishop o Auckland) are the president and dent respectively, the remaining members being the Rev. E. G. Budd (Anglican gaol chaplain), Messrs. D. Mcpherson W. Brakenrig, C. Little, C. Hudson, and *. G EwSgton. The society, as at present constituted, is small, but all its members are hard and indefatigable workers in the furtherance' of the cause of which they have made themselves representatives. In an interview with a Herald representative,; Mr. F. G. Ewington after briefly sketching the history of. the society, of which he is one of the original members, gave some interesting .details as to the methods employed in assisting discharged prisoners. The gaol chaplain M able in the course of his ministrations, to net into touch with the prisoners, and thereby to discover their prospects, and for what kind of work they will be suited on their discharge. Wherever possible employment is found at once for the prisoner when he leaves the gaol, the employer being told in every case the mans past historv, so that, should the employe© subsequently turn out a failure or dishonest, the employer cannot blame the society, as he engaged the man well knowing his antecedents. Work may be found in the country on a farm, on board ship, or, in the case of a cultured and educated man, m an office; occasionally a billet is found for the man in some nlaee outside the Dominion. When a man comes out of gaol and is in need of help, the society will do its best to orovide him with work, supplying him "with clothes and lodging in the meantime. An artisan too may perhaps be fitted up with a set of tools preparatory to his taking up some work. Money is in no case given to a discharged prisener, excerjt perhaps a few shillings to prevent him from arriving at a new place without a penny in his pocket. the society chiefly confines its operations to helping male offenders, females being assisted bv several benevolent societies. The maiority of the men who are assisted are first offenders, and special attention is paid to these. .Mr. Ewington said that the old offenders were the cause of much heart-breaking, and often managed to "have" the society, but many a first, offender by timely aid and advice has succeeded in living down his lapse,, and has become a creditable citizen. Drink, said Mr. Ewington, is the direct cause of many a crime, and the indirect cause of many more, but a. number of offences can be traced to the desire of young men to dress fashionably and showily. Figures "available for the past year show that, out of 1778 persons discharged from the gaol, 400 in one way or another received help. To do this work money is, of course, necessary, and as the society is supported entirely by voluntary contributions," its operations must be strictly confined to the limits of its income. __ The legacy left a few years ago by Mrs. Knox, amounting to £200, is nearly exhausted, and in spite of the generous legncy of the late Sir John Logan Campbell, tlio society is in. real need of • assistance, both in the way of money and of gifts of clothes.