REFORM OF CRIMINALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15100, 24 March 1911, Page 6

REFORM OF CRIMINALS.

SPEECH BY MR JUSTICE CHAPMAN.

IPkb United Pbess Association.) GISBORNE, March 22,

At a Chamber of Commerce banquet last night Mi , Justice Chapman said tnat, so far as the judges and magistrates wcic concerned, they had very little to do with the question of tfc reform of criminals, and would welcome ;uiy advice on the question. There were, however, mm connected with tho administration of justice who, without professing to know how to reform these 'unfoitauites, were leally trying to solve the problem of clinic. None had yet answered the qu:s!ion ais to whether it was possible to iclorm criminals. Ho gave credit to ])r Findlay as being the first aiul foicmcst among those who wcie really trying , . ,to acswer the question. The whole matter was a Wot on civilisation. He did not say ©no could go far in the matter of the re-form of the hardened criminal, but it was possible to try to do something in the case of those who were in the budding stage. However, criminality in thus country was a trivia] factor, but it would he bett'?r if it could be eradicated, as criminals were a standing disgrace on civilisation.