NEW METHODS FOR OLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 9

NEW METHODS FOR OLD.

matter OF CONFIDENCE. privileges;; NOT ABUSED.. r The striking progress that has been made in the institution of humanitarian methods in the prisons of the Dominion was evidenced by many <, ; facts introduced ;in an address given" at Wellington by the Con-troller-General of' Prisons, Mr.' C. E. Matthews. ■ " Punishment was the watchword of the old system," said Mr. Matthews, " and men with long or even moderate sentences were seldom oUt of sight .or hearing of i the warders during the whole of the work-" ing day. After work was over they were locked up in their cells at five o'clock until seven o'clock next morning. Books were supplied from a.prison library consisting of , books which had been sent in to" prisoners by their friends, and afterwards confiscated by the, prison authorities." As a.contrast to this Mr. Matthews presented a picture of a modern prison farm settlement, where individual prisoners and even parties of prisoners were constantly working quite beyond sight and hearing of warders or guards. As an illustration of the confidence it was possible to repose in the better class of prisoners, he cited a recent incident at a road-making camp near Wairaari.no. Some of the working bullocks strayed. Two prisoners volunteered to find them and finally succeeded, after being away two nights in the bush without shelter. On another occasion recently a breakdown at a prison sawmill caused delay m • getting out the timber orders. > Several of the men employed there were much concerned at this and asked to be allowed to start! at 4 a.m. to repair the damage. . They started at that time and worked on until, 10 p.m. that night of their own volition so as to' get the plant ready for saving timber the next day. ■' \, . •'-■.,, *„„ ,Mr Matthews stated that the tune for lighting cells had been extended from.; 8 to 9 o'clock, . libraries had beenu improved, and a system introduced enabling men to i read or study according to their. fastes, or to employ themselves 5* the evening hours. .: Evening schools Lid been opened in all >he larger prisons and reformatories, and endeavour was made to treat the prisoners -■ as sentient beings, who though they had erred, were SSfci to'their Ww-creatures- m their feelings, aspirations and desires.