CORRESPONDENCE.

NZ Truth, Issue 90, 9 March 1907, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

PRISON SYSTEM.

k Black Blot on Our Democracy.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— ln view of the sad story told m your issue of the 2nd instant by the unfortunate man who had served three years m what I may justly term our modern black hole of Hell, and m view of the fact that year after year the .agoinsing wail of the criminal and the starving (twin brothers) goes up -to a Christian, democratic communiity for real, help, real reform and to Parliament yeaf after year m vain, except ' for the tinkering and shuffling with it as has been' the case, especially of late years. I do not think, the above title is uncalled , for. It is the old story over again, and every reasonable f live member of the community will doubtless endorse your out-spoken and strong plea for radical prison reform. I have for -the past twenty years and more advocated for the removal of prisons from the centres to the suburbs or country districts, and the introduction of a more humanitarian, scientific method of management, 'discipline, .and) general working. In short to combine kindness with firmness.; Society, is now. beginning to realize the fact that criminals are more sinned against than sinning ; that they are largely the product of an unevenly balanced, society, that no section of the people, rich or poor, learned or ignorant, can! say "no fraction .of the criminal class clings to the fringe of my robe," for which reason I -urge and demand on, behalf of our suffering and injured brothers and .sisters, known as criminals, the co-operation of all <. classes for the removal of .,» the above title from our democracy. No evasive answers, seeking to justify the indifference -of the community on the subject, or the so-called justice of present treatment will stand. How is it that this all-important matter has not been -seen to and dealt with on similar lines to those applied to education of the young, and the" management of. the army and navy ? No one dare say but that present day practises ih. .both of the departments named are superior to those m use fifty years ago. Why is it- not, so with regard to the treatment of our criminals ? My object is not to find fault with individual officials, but to endeavor to awaken a feeling m favor of united effort m every ecu' re, by asking the press, 'pulpit and platform to be one on this (to me sacred) mission. I have refrained from indulging m quoting any of the diabolical thinigs m connection with this subject which could be don<j, as I do not think, such would help forward the cause of ; reform sought. The iniquitous nature of the whole system as at present '• carried out, both here and m the. Motherland, is well known. Let 'this become a burning question m every centre ; let there be public meetings passing resolutions that Parliament shall, next session, bring m a Prison and Criminal Reform Bill of so far-reaching a character as to provide for the best quality of reform m the combined judgment of those handling it. Remember, a so'called Christian community, society, \or democracy, has created laws, customs, and usuages by which, or under, which, our, present criminals and- the barbarous and damnable treatment meted out to them exist. .1 will not say a word of my own coining against any section of the people, but m concluding this brief appeal I will do so by quotinig the . man of Nazareth, when he confronted the religious teachers of his day. showing them their errors m following and worshiping the letter of the law and ignoring the spirit thereaf. Addressing them He said : "You love the uppermost seats m the house of worship, and the making of lone prayers, the making wide the borders of your phylacteries so, that you be seen and heard of men. You have taught for my, fathers commandments, the traditions of the fathers, or. elders, and by these laid heavy burdens upon the people : 'but you will not turn one of your fingers to remove these .burdens. , (You vipers, hypocrites. . . . You shall have your reward." If this noble soul stood before us m the flesh to-day what would he say ? Let us unitedly so act as regards t/be crihniual at least that Bis declaration would be : "You' have done the best you = could for your less fortunate brothers and sisters." Wishing the prompt and speedy success by united action throughout the colony.— l am, &c, BROTHERHOOD.