PRISONERS AID SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17596, 8 October 1920, Page 6

PRISONERS AID SOCIETY.

NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual meeting of the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society was held yesterday; the president, Mr. C. Hudson, occupying the chair.

I The nineteenth annual report stated I that the number of persons dealt with in | 1919_ was 959, an increase of 82 on the I previous year. All these, with few exceptions, were interviewed before discharge, and assistance given when required. Men who had undergone reformative detention, or had been declared habitual criminals, usually had. a considerable sum of money to their credit, £3 or £4 being given at the time of discharge, and the balance handed over to the .probation officer for the benefit of the discharged man. Ordinary hard labour men received very little; and these often needed assistance for a few days._ Registry office fees had been baid. Short,time men discharged on Saturday were lodged and fed until Monday. During the year the ladiee who organised the streets collection in celebration of peace donated £25 to th 6 funds. This was expended on behalf of the wives and families of men in prison. The commercial travellers assisted with a cart load of useful second-hand clothing, and" a grant of £25 Co the general fund was received at the close of the financial year. The Society's income is a fairly fixed amount, nearly all coming from the interest of the late Sir John Campbell's lecacy. Able-bodied men had little difficulty in finding employment. The Salvation Army Home received - a number of elderly men, and others more or Jess weak-minded. The St. Vincent de Paul Society also co-onerated. The report closed with an expression of thanks to the Controller-General of Prisons and to the staff of 'Mount Eden Gaol for giv'nst all the assistance in their power. The, oresident; Mr. C. Hudson, the vicepresident. Mr. Justice Cooper, the secretary- and treasurer, thp Rev. E. C. Budd. a"d the members of the committee were all „ re-elected.