CARE AFTER GAOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 14

CARE AFTER GAOL

RELEASED PRISONERS

MORE HELP REQUIRED ADVANCE IN ENGLAND There is hope for further recognition of the work of the Auckland Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society in the statement in the House of Rcpresentntives by the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cob be, that the question of increased grants to such organisations was being considered. The Rev. G. Jv Moreton, prison chaplain and leading official in the society, stated yesterday that the work was one which needed much greater support. The problem had received greater attention in England. Ho said the organisation in Auckland performed a national service, as Mount Eden .gaol could be regarded as practically the only penal prison in New Zealand. The release of prisoners from there, in consequence, created a particular problem in Auckland, hut there were also the considerations that tli" society extended its work far beyond the city and that there ivere more than 300 persons on probation in Auckland, whoso circumstances needed attention. The Government had not realised the importance of the question.

Mr. Moroton added that assisting offenders so that they should not return to prison represented a saving to tho community. Little imagination was required to appreciate the difficult circumstances in which the wife and family of a convicted man were placed. A prisoner's allowance, even after six months' gaol, was meagre, and it was nft;er his release that thcro arose tho urgent community problem of assisting him to better things. Mr. Moreton considered work of this nature greatly assisted tho desirable state of affairs seen in the declining prison population. In England, means had lately been taken to further the work of rehabilitating convicts. The scheme was the remilt of the adoption of recommendations contained in a report presented to the Homo Secretary by a departmental committee, which, since 1932, had been investigating the employment of prisoners in gaol and aiding them after their release, said Mr. Moreton. It was found that too little was being done to find employment or to maintain personal contact with the prisoners after release. The co-ordination of all voluntary organisations, with a supervisory and official national council, was recommended. It was further stated that thero were many prisoners who, given the opportunity, were willing to work and to become law-abiding fit izens.

A national council is to be formed in England, with a Government official as chairman. Tho Government grant, now £7OOO, is to be increased to £'15,000 for the first three years, when tlin position will be reviewed. All charitable contributions will be under tho direct control of tho council.