THE INDETERMINATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7450, 26 May 1911, Page 4

THE INDETERMINATE

FORMING THE “ WORK HABIT.” HABITUAL PRISONERS AND THB NEW SYSTEM. In the scheme of prison reform out* lined over a year ago by tho Hon. Dr Findlay, the revision of the marks system of reward, for good conduct was mentioned as a feature. The indeterminate sentence has now hud a fairly long trial, and inquiries show that tho system 1 of awarding credit marks having .a definite monetary value has operated, beneficially .in encouraging habitual criminals to adopt habits of steady industry during their imprisonment under, indeterminate- sentences. It is provided by the statute that a prisoner in' a reformatory prison may bo paid for his labour, any excess over tho net cost of his keep being available for tho maintenance of his wife or tho purchase ox little luxuries. A full day’s work and exemplary conduct entitles < prisoner to eight marks having a mono tary equivalent of 3s. A “fair’’ day’« • work with good conduct is rated at seven marts or 2s-9d. and an indifferent day’s work or bad conduct six marks, or 2a 6d. The net cost of, keep is 2s <ki, so that.it is possible for' a prisoner to earn sixpence every working day and threepence for exemplary conduct on Sundays or holidays. The amount is not large, so that it cannot have any appreciable effect in assisting tho prisoner’s dependants outside, in fact inquiries failed to disclose a case in which this privilege has been of value. The money, it.is found, goes to purchase prison luxuries or indulgences, these being specified as: ■‘Postage-stamps, tea, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, cheese, fish, fruit, newspapers, pipes, butter, jam, milk, extra lighting, extra issue of books and any other privileges which the manager of the prison may sanction.” These articles are supplied at contract price and suable industrious prisonera to. supplement their wholesome hut plain diet. -PROFITABLE XVORK. Stpno-quarrying is the most useful oc» cupation taken up by the prisoners. Some wore once engaged in mat-making, but this indoor occupation did not suit them, and the demand for mats was not large. Careful as the Prisons Department must be not to displace outside labour by the productions of the prisons, there is some .difficulty, in finding the inmates work on a sufficiently large scale to produce a really good profit. Even the quarrying is done to fill contracts which are close to actual cost price. The officials state that a prisoner wfio has experience in a quarry. can.always, make himself valuable to private q uarry-owners upon his release. GOOD HABITS FORAIED. "Remarkably" successful in its reformative effect” declared one high officer of the Prisons Department when his opinion Upon tho -indeterminate -sentence was invied. Ho explained that the "hard cases," Who had hitherto persisted in a somewhat insolent or dogged ettitudo which was not quite insubordination but gave tbo officers anxiety, were now getting tbe "work habit," as they realise that nothing else would make them free men. It has been plainly indicated that loafing and insubordination simply put further away tho day of release, and' that there is, no hope for consideration _ without work. Forced to become steadily industrious, the "habitual” finds out eventually that the life of regular Work has substantial rewards, and he is generally surprised to find himself capable of it. Thje discovery enables him to face the world and resist temptation with more Confidence than he (ore, the result being that permanent reform is likely.