AN OPENED LETTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 299, 18 March 1911, Page 7

AN OPENED LETTER.

The Prison Post Office, An Unfortunate's Complaint. A female recently discharged from the Terrace Gaol called on "Truth" during the week with a grievance, which grievance is a genuine one, and is accordingly ventilated m these columns. After having, served a term of- imprisonment,'- which expired on February 21, she received' a letter, which had been addressed to her from Dunedin. This letter was writton on, or at any rate bore the ;Dune-r> din post-mark of, February 21. ' It was* received at H.M. Prison on February 24, after the woman had been released, and, here comes the grievance, it was opened by the . gaol authorities and then re-^addressed to the unfortunate creature. "Truth" has read the letter. It contained, nothing but private news, and, as far as this paper's knowledge is concerned, IT IS NOT A CRIME for an unfortunate female to receive a letter. What "Truth" now asks is, by what right did the. gaol authorities dare to open a letter addressed to an ex-prisoner ? There should be an inquiry into this matter, l-ecause gaolers have no right to dp anything of that sort. It is .officious and impertinent. Acts of this description embitter the minds of outcasts of Society against the authorities. A person discharged * from prison is no longer under the care of the gaoler and those on the Terrace should bear the fact m mind. "Truth" devotes space to this matter, wi+h the hope that there will not be a repetition of such offlciousness on the part of the Terrace gaolers. .