PRISON SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 6

PRISON SYSTEM

LOOKING TO DOMINION! STUDY IN VICTORIA VISIT BY A MINISTER [from our own correspondent] MELBOURNE, Dec. 2 Guidance from New Zealand methods is frequently sought by Victoria. Textbooks used in Victorian schools are based largely on those used in New Zealand, as was revealed at the text-books inquiry early this year. A few month* ago two Victorian Ministers (Messrs Goudie and Pye) visited New Zealand to inquire into several problems, p Jir . ticularly the Dominion's system of hospital finance. More recently the Minister of Education (Dr. Harris) has been asked to consider the advisability of introducing a dental nursing system for children, modelled on the New Zealand service. Now, it is revealed, New Zealand prison methods liave attracted the fav. ourable notice of the State Ministry, and the Chief Secretary, Mr. Bailey, in whose department prisons are administered, will visit New Zealand, prob. ably early in th<> new year, to examine particularly the farm and forest camp schemes. The State Parliament will rise next month until next June, and during the recess Mr. Bailey will visit New Zealand.

Modern Methods Wanted "I believe that the time has arrived when some changes should be mada in the treatment of many prisoners and that more modern methods of ad. ministration should be included," said Mr. Bailey. "Yarding of men within walls is not denirable. Many could bu used in clearinjt; land in the countrv for permanent settlers. This would bo of advantage tr. the State and to the men themselves.. "I intend to investigate the intnoduction here of the 'honour' system, similar to that which operates in N»,w Zealand," added Mr. Bailey. "Tim adoption of such a system might be nn alternative to the rebuilding and sewering of a section of the metropolitan prison at Pentridge, and would also relieve conditions at Geelong, I h a;e studied the New Zealand penal system, under which long-sentence prisoners arc placed on parole and sent to farm and forest camps, and I have been impressed by the successful operation of the plan. It may be possible to adopt the gtstem here by placing on parole prisoners nearing the end of their sentences and putting them to work in clearing areas ifor settlement arid on other undertakings."

All Able Administrator Mr. Bailey, -who -was only an honorary Minister until three months ago, whou he succeeded Brigadier M. J. M. Bourchier, now Agent-General, as Chief Secretary, has prored himself to be ore of the ablest administrators in the Cal>inet. He was faced in his first week in his new office with the problem of police reorganisation, following the in . quiry into the shooting of Superintend ent J. O'C. Brophv, and it is generally conceded that he handled n/tfi firmness and tact a difficult task. Mr Bailey was formerly a Labour member, and was a member of the Labour Cabinet led by Mr. E. J. Hogan. The su;.k port by Mr. Hogan and Mr. Bailey of the Premiers' Plan resulted in their renunciation by the Labour Party, and Mr. Bailey was defeated at the polls However, he recaptured his old seat. Warrnambool, at the last election-, when he stood as a Country Party member. Mr. Hogan is also a Country Party member now, and is Minister of Agriculture in the Dunstan Ministry.