PRISONERS' AID MORTGAGE RELIEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23127, 27 August 1938, Page 15

PRISONERS' AID

MORTGAGE RELIEF

SOCIETIES' GOOD WORK

4 SMALL GOVERNMENT GRANT

MR. SCHRAMM URGES INCREASE

[BY TELEGRAPH —SI'ECTAT; REPORTER]

WELLINGTON, Friday

A ploa for increased Government grants to Discharged Prisoners' Aid Societies in New Zealand was made by IV'lr. F. W. Schramm (Government —Auckland Fast) during consideration of the estimates of the Department of Justice and Prisons in the House of Representatives to-day.

Attention was drawn by Mr. Schramm to a grant of £2OO for prisoners' aid societies. There were at least four such societies in the Dominion, said Mr. Schramm, and tho grant appeared to be miserably small. It could vcrv well bo increased to at least £SOO. 't he societies did exceptionally good work, particularlv the organisation in Auckland, and tiiey deserved every assistance from the Government. Tho Minister of Justice, tho Hon. H. G. It. Mason, said it was the practice to pay gratuities to prisoners in accordance with their good conduct marks when they were discharged from prison. Tho assistance given in that respect meant that the burden on prisoners' aid societies was considerably lighter than it was in some other countries.

Mr. Schramm's remarks were supported by Mr. R. A. Wright (Independent—Wellington Suburbs), who said the societies were performing a notable service in assisting in the rehabilitation of prisoners. "Many prisoners do not receive wages while they are in prison," said Mr. Schramm, "and very few of thein receive gratuities on discharge. "I would like to know," lie added, "the number of prisoners discharged last year, and of that number how many received wages, together with the total amount, and how many received gratuities. It should not ho' forgotten that the short-term prisoner deserves consideration. He lias no opportunity to obtain reasonable wages or gratuities.

"With conditions as they are at present. I should think the Government could make a grant of £SOO. or even £IOOO. It would be money well spent."

PROGRESS OF ADJUSTMENT EARLY COMPLETION OF WORK COMMISSIONS' HEAVY TASK [by telegraph-—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Friday The early completion of the work of adjustment commissions under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Act was forecast by the Minister of Justice, the H. G. J?. Mason, during consideration of tlio estimates of the Department of Justice and Prisons in the House of Representatives to-day. "L would like to express the gratitude of the Government to the commissions." Mr. Mason said. "The work which they have had to face has been enormous. Many of the commissions have now completed their work, and by the end of next month the majority of cases will be completed." Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition——Hiccarton): New commissions are being appointed.

"That is only for the purpose of dealing with special circumstances in certain districts,'' the Minister replied. "In some localities the work has been heavier than in others and an effort is being made to expedite adjustments."

Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition— Eastern Maori): When do you expect to clean up all the work? Mr. Mason: I think that by the end of October there will not be many corners to he rounded off.

WORK ON PRISON FARMS

LESS LABOUR AVAILABLE DEVELOPMENT VERY SLOW Tuv TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON, Friday The future development of prison farms as areas for settlement was a subject of discussion during consideration of the estimates of the Department of Justice and Prisons in the House of Representatives to-day. The matter was raised by Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition —Eastern Maori), who said that native land development schemes were proceeding in the areas where the prison camps were situated. He asked what was to ho the future policy with regard to the land now being fanned at the camps. "1 do not know there are any special plans for the future," said the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. P. Mason. "Land is being .brought in, of course, and the ultimate objective is that it should bo available for settlement.. However, owing to the decrease in the number of prisoners the progress of development is very slow. The number of prisoners in the camps is hardly more than sufficient for routine farming operations." The Minister added that the number of prisoners in the Dominion was as low as it had been for a quarter of a century. The reduction in the prison population was also affecting the activities of the department in quarrying and market gardening.