THE AUCKLAND PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19738, 10 September 1927, Page 10

THE AUCKLAND PRISON.

MR. LEE'S CRITICISM. REPLY BY EX-CONTROLLER. The adverse comments against the Auckland prison made in Parliament by Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., were criticised yesterday by Mr. M. Hawkins, ex-Controller of Prisons and an official in the Prisons Department for 41 years. Mr. Hawkins said the remarks attributed by Mr. Lee to General Booth, of the Salvation Army, were quite unjustifiable. Even in New Zealand there were dangerous criminals, and they had to be housed in a strong prison. Six years ago there was room for improvement at Mount Eden, but extensive alterations had been carried out, wooden floors put down in place of asphalt and the general surroundings considerably brightened. Dangerous or habitual criminals could not be sent to prison camps, for if they broke loose, the blame would fall on the Prisons Department. Men serving short sentences, also, could not be sent to camps. It was necessary to watch their behaviour in prison.

Mr. Hawkins added that the Nov; Zealand Borsta,! institutes compared more than favourably, in the direction of appointments, with the various Salvation Army homes. Another recent statement that female prisoners were housed in a cold, stone building was not correct. There was a large wooden house for their use which liad cost over £IOOO.