A PRISON FARM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 5

A PRISON FARM

LAND SELECTED IN THE WAIKATO. MAKING AN EARLY START. Further progress has been made by the Minister for Justice (Hon. Dr Fmdlay) in his scheme of prison reform. Parliament granted a sum of £IOOO towards the reformatory farm, and its sito lias been definitely fixed at Tokanui, near Hamilton, in the Waikato. In the course of a week or so, Dr Hay (Inspector of Prisons) and the isev. James Kayll, the department's penologist, will visit the land to take the preliminary steps in tho formation of tho farm. ''l hope in a month or two_ that a good deal of work in preparing the farm for the buildings will ho done," explained' Dr Findlay on Saturday. "The scheme, including full regulations for tho reformatory farm, lias now been completed and for some weeks details havo been before tho Judges of the Supremo Court for their criticism, as a portion of the scheme and regulations refers to officers to be discharged by their Honors. Upon receipt of the Judges' views I will bo in a position to submit the whole scheme to Cabinet." Dr Findlay spoke of recent legislation relating to reformatories as very helpful to his scheme, but indicated that more statutory power would be required next session to complete it. _ "The guiding motive has been," he said, "to' make applicable to the conditions of' this country tihos'e portions of the reform prison methods wfaidh have proved permanently successful in England, America, and New South Wales. On the main lines of these schemes the New Zealand prison authorities aro now quietly working. It will not be possible to put the whole scheme into operation at once, or within a short period, but as soon as the approval of the Government is secured, strenuous strides will be made towards its complete application."