PRISON REFORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14684, 18 November 1909, Page 11

PRISON REFORM

At a meeting of the committee of tlio Prisons and Industrial Schools Ilefonn Society, held on Friday last at the office of Mr R. Gilkiso/i, thero were present the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers (president), Messrs M. Cohen and U. Giikison (vice-presidents), Mr A. R. Barclay, Mrs Ansell, (md Misi Mucgcorge (Lou. ecc.l. Some very interesting correspondence was received. This included a letter from Captain F. R, Neitenstein, 1.5.0., Comptrollergeneral of Prisons for N.S. Wales, who has transformed the prison .sytem of his State from the penitentiary to that'of .reformatory Jn response to application from the fcocieiy, Jie wrote:—"l think one of the primary matters that donmnd attention is to grade tho gaols, and to set apart eacli olio of the largo i' gaols for tho treatment of a. particular class of inmate, and by this means you wilt wholly prevent tho contamination of association of first offenders with more hardened offenders. This pf courso, is only tho primary classification! As «, general rule tho treatment, of prisoners can bo summed up: Associate only at work, or at exercise, or at school, and only then under strict supervision. 1 feel that very little good is effected by harsh treatment, and that ,vc have, to some «tent, solved a diflicult. problem here W obfjimnjr Situations for our people before All mombVroTX 61 ' 1 ° f Juve " llc comtsprisons if N°S. on study of puson i Ma tt crgi » Se ",0 " I,lltc a