PENAL REFORM

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 2

PENAL REFORM

j VALUE OF HARD WORK j "REFORMATTOX HOPELESS AFTER j 23 YEARS OF AGE. ADDRESS BY MR TREADWELL. Tbe possibilities of reformation amongst tbe criminal classes was dealt witb in a very fascinating manner at the "Y” Lunch Club yesterday by Mr C. A. L Treadwell, who was the speaker tor the day, and his talk was one of the most engrossing that have been given lately. NEED FOR PUBLIC INTEREST. He had interested himself in the subject, he said, since he began to study tor the law. The general public thought there was no need tor them to consider the matter, beoauEe it went along on well oiled wheel*. Nothing was more indicative of a nation's progress than the advances made in the reformation, of its criminal classes, and no nation in the world had done so much to lift itself out of the disgraceful and degrading system of punishment and gone in for prison reform as had the British nation. They might not he pioneers of the present system, but they had taken the idea and improved upon the original. THE OLD METHODS. The old theory of punishment was purely the punishment, plus the degradation of the offender, but the true conception of punishment, was the protection of society against crime, merely a means to an end. A little over 106 years ago two youngsters, one only eight years of age, were condemned for stealing some spoons, and capital punishment being the law for stealing where the value was over J!2, this child suffered the extreme penalty of the law, and the first the parents knew of the childish prank was when they saw the body being removed for burial. Now, instead of being brutalising and lowering, the treatment, meted out to young criminals was enlightening and elevating.

NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM THE BEST. • TlJere was no better system in vogue fn the world than that in New Zealand. Time and experience had shown that desirable though it might be, it was practicably impossible to segregate tnd olassify criminals to any extent. Of the different classes of prison in New Zealand the most outstanding Were those at Mount Eden, Invercargill, and the prison camps, and these three classes of prisons Indicated the only practical classification. REFORM HOPELESS.

It might surprise them to know Ihht it was almost hopeless to expect reform in a criminal unless he was under 28 years of age and a virtual first offender. Experience was the great teacher, -nd it was accepted that unless brought under prison discipline young it was useless to treat a prisoner as capable of bes Ing reformed. Invercargill was the great reformative prison, and the prison camps were for men past the age of reform, and men who could be expected to do their punishment without trouble. HABITUALS AT MOUNT EDEN.

Mount Edeh Was for the hardened criminal, the hopeless Tecidivist, the habitual criminal. The hardened habitual was a type whose inclinations—no matter their origin—were anti-society. He was a menace to his fellow creatures and useless to himself. For him there Was no hope of reforming. Kindness amt enoouragement were wasted upon him, and the best the State could do was to punish him and make him feel the full privations of his wrong-doing so that he would look before again leaping into a. criminal undertaking For this clans gaol was the only deterrent and society’s only safeguard. PRISON CAMPS. Prison camps were proving excellent institutions, and the type of man tor them was the man who was too old to reform, but not a dangerous criminal, who could bo trusted to work alone without a guard. Suoh men should be giveii encouragement to turn over a new leaf, and should l not be sent to a place l:ke Mount Eden. However, he believed few of this class ever reformed. MObERN REFORMATION FOR YOUTHS. The criminologist would find the greatest interest in the youthful offender, the elkss which oould be and generally was reformed. He hod seen the treatment at Invercargill, but it was useless to send a man of oyer -23 there, he was too old. The ydung prisoner was received 1 by the gaoler, who in a frank and friendly talk tells him what he is to expect, that it will be useless to object that he will have to work hard, but that he can obtain marks which will liberate him the sooner,, indeed that the iength of his stay there depends entirely upon himself. He was treated to hard work at once, and was tired out physically for many nights uiitiL his physical condition improved. THE WORK HABIT. The work habit was inculcated 1 in him. His trouble was probably brought about by drink and laziness, but by tegular food and regular work he Would learn that it was better to work and live honestly than to labour in prison. He was educated if necessary until he reached a reasonable standard, hnd hih religious beliefs Were attended to, .tor the appeal by rfeligion was poWerftil and essbntial. Re learned that society wAs not against him*, but would give him a helping hand. . Every Improvement he made Was recorded in his favour, and while oncohr agement and_ kindness Were for him, a stern but just discipline would deal with him if he abused the privileges lie earned or infringed the rules of thd institution. SUCCESSFUL REFORMS. Physical and moral, wasters were coni tinually going into the reformatories; and in a few years were fitted physically and morally to, work their way in society arid become good and respectable citizens. Time did not allow him to deal with other interesting phases of the question, but the subject was worth investigation, for new thought brought reform. and reform meant higher civilisation.. He concluded .with thy. saying _>f a well-known criminologist:—"The lessening of the crime of a country is an oh T ject worthy of the best thoughts end the best efforts of our best men."