FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16452, 31 January 1917, Page 11

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

.MOUNT EDEN GAOL, j PUNISHMENTS ffIFI.tOTU). ;;9wnJ the H*b*U> of January 31, 186?-) • L, fisdi"" of t''« committee appointed so wider the report of the visiting justices nn the conditio of the Mount Eden Gaol "stains the following: -"With regard to punishments, pur committee consider that L punishments of solitary confinements lave been numerous and excessive, and vour committee believe that prisoners are jilrclv to suffer in health by the frequent. :|£j jijjjig confinement in the dark cells of die Mas ™' } as ffm the at ' ° beaTT irons, and, as your committee believe it is DOt i? ten^eii that a man shoul(1 in any. way be deteriorated, either in body or mind, by his imprisonment, it is recommended that if it be necessary to put tackles on a prisoner they should bo only foiyy enough to secure his safety, and that prisoners should only bo put in dark cells alter light cells have been tried and found ineffective. Prisoners have been detained in cells for 31 days with only tK sd and water for their diet. A detention in cells over three days—which ought to be quite sufficient punishment-should entitle them to receive oatmeal gruel, or ten as well as bread. Prisoners have been illegally punished by gagging." i