HONOUR SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19101, 20 August 1925, Page 9

HONOUR SYSTEM.

AUSTRALIAN PRISONERS. INSTANCES OF SUCCESS. A. arid N.Z. MELBOURNE. Aug. 19. The Penal Department is conducting in the gaols as an experiment the system known as the honour system. This consists of placing certain prisoners on their honour not to escape. So far the scheme has been entirely successful. In one case a prisoner was serving a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour for manslaughter. His wifo was very ill in hospital and called for him incessantly. The prison authorities allowed the man to visit his wife. lie stayed at the hospital for five days and nights unguarded until the woman recovered. Then ho returned to gaol. A second caso was that of a prisoner who was serving an indeterminato sentence. This man played a leading part in the hold up at tho Middle Park branch of tho English and "Scottish Australian Bank in 1916. In gaol ho was noted for his good conduct.. The mau's sight began to fail and he was taken to a hospital, accompanied by a- warder, for an operation on his eyes. Thero he lay in bed for nearly a month unguarded. When he recovered ho returned to gaol. Tho hospital authorities are placed under no obligation to guard a prisoner. When these instances wero reported in gaol several other prisoners developed mysterious complaints, but they were not allowed to visit a hospital oil trust.