OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12017, 20 December 1924, Page 11

OBITUARY

UNDER-SECRETARY FOR JUS- . v TICE. f Mr Charles Edward Matthews, -Under-Secretary for Justice and Con-troller-General of Prisons, died at 'the Grand Hotel in Palmerston at an early hour yesterday morning, passing -away in his sleep from heart trouble. The. advibe was, received with deepest regret in Wellington Has duties in -the Justice Department were multiple, but it was in the . Prisons’ Department side -of , his work that he was best , in that connection he has left a cufcirk in the history of the department which will never be erased. Early in his,career, as secretary to a Minister for Justice, he got an insight into the working of the prison system, and Over a' period of many years he has-been responsible" for; or closely associated with, the great reforms which have transformed the prison system ,of the Dominion. From the time prjsohs were merely the deceased was "connected with their evolution, the change from brick walla to pleasant farms'" and many .other ventures which /enabled the authorities- to exercise a' ,-yery considerable' power in help-' ing men who have made a mistake to regain their manhood. Through many years Mr‘ Matthews was a ready confident with many men, always ready with - a. . sympathetic ' understanding which enabled, not only big things but many small things to he done "to better the, lives of the prisoners,'and give them . every chance to 1 rehabilitate themselves. In\ this work he has been "assisted by officers who respected him, an dgave their best. His position at the head of the Prisons Department will he.a'.difficult one for. his successor to fill, for he had many'schemes on trial, or in the making, to improve the system and secure even better results than have been achieved with credit to the and operators during the past few years.. In 'this System the ’ “honour code’' was one of the best of innovations introduced. -The late Mr Matthews, son of Francis J. .Matthews, Esq., settler, was born on July 14th, 1872 at Havelock, Marlborough. In 1898 he married a daughter of Mr William Wiggins, merchant, of Wellington. He "leaves a widow and two daughters., Mr Matthews was first appointed to the pub-* / lic service on January 28th, 1889, as a "cadet in the Treasury. He was transferred to a clerkship in the Justice .Department on September 17th, 1896. Subsequently he was appointed chief clerk in the Police Etepartmnet on February Ist, 1910. Hi was retransferred to the Justice Department as chief clerk on July 6th, 1912."'0n No-' tember 9th, 1912, -in addition to hie office as chief, clerk' he' Was also appointed deputy inspector of prisons. In 19’4, on the retirement of Dr. J. S. S. Hay from the office of inspector of prisons,' Mr _ Matthews -was appointed te .the positibn. On November 26th, 1917, Mr Matthews was promoted to the position of Assistant Under-Secre-tary, Prisons Department, retaining the Statutory office of Inspector of Prisons. On the retirement of Mr G.

v. n>, o oruan, mr t mactnews .was appointed' Under-Secretary, Justice , Department apd atents Office, in addition, to retaining charge of , the Prisons' Department. The late Mr Matthews acted as private secretary to various Ministers during, tbe_.period ( 1896-1900. The Government ""recently decided that the late Mr Matthews should act as official representative at the International Prisons’ Congress, which is to be held in Dondon next year, Mr Matthews during -his association with the Prisons Department took a keen interest in the welfare of prisoners, and during his regime the department fpllovwd the modem practice ■of .the employment of prisoners on useful revenue or asset producing labour. He has been a member of the ■Prisons Board since ' 1915, and ■ since '1920 has been Chief Probationer Officer, under the Offenders Probation Act. He. is the l author of. the publication ‘“Evolution of New Zealand Prison System.” Mr P. Matthews journeyed to Palmerston North yesterday with the object of bringing, his brother’s body to Wellington. The interment will probably take place on Sunday.

CHIEF JUSTICE S TRIBUTE “AN IDEAL SERVANT OP THE CROWN.”- > , THe ■ Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, when seen by a “Times” reporter, said'he was greatly shocked. Sir Robert said he knew Mr'Matthews before' he was appointed Under-Secretary for Justice, when he was in'the Police Department, and that he valued his services very highly indeed. It would, ho added, be very difficult to.- get any person appointed) who could fill bis' position. Only one who had been, in telose touch with Mr Matthews in, rd'Uttioni to prisoners could fully apprey ciote and value his great ability; and his intense anxiety to do the beet he cpuld for those unfortunate enough to ' bis sent to prison or for reformative treatment. * “Hie was a man who took an immense delight in his work; he was always anxious to help, and had always a kindly feeling even for the worst of offenders,” remarked Sir Robert. “He never spared himself when any work was to be done, and was especially anxious -to. do what he could to-help, those who had fallen, so that they might be redeemed and made good Jitizeins. New Zealand has been fortunate in ,her civil service, and Mr Matthews’ name, I am sure, will be revered by all who came in contact with' him as an ideal servant of the I •Crown'. lam sure that all who knew him will feel the keenest aympathy .vith has family, who have been deprived of their bread-winner.” 1