THE BORSTAL SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21993, 30 June 1933, Page 5

THE BORSTAL SYSTEM

I'D THE EimOK . \ SIR,—It is true, as Mr F. A. ch; >• Mare says, that (I) there is the official view of our Borstals, and (2) there is the view of the Howard League and my own As far as the official jview (Mr Cobbe s) is concerned, it is formed after an official visit lasting little over half an hour. May I ask how can a man form a proper opinion of the Borstals in one short visit." Without casting any reflections on those concerned, it stands to reason that, pnoi to a visit from such an important representative of the Government as the Minister of Justice every, preparation would be made and the conditions he would find there would not be normal. As far as the view of the Howard League is concerned, the opinion is formed after years of observation and must be of more value than Mr Cobbe’s, formed from one short visit; As to my own view, it is after three years’ observation and because 'of many rumours one hears in Invercargill that I ventured to bring them before the public. In answer to Miss Baughan, I believe it to be true that women and girls on

probation are obliged to go to the Borstal to report. There is no woman probation officer in Invercargill. I do not believe . that the superintendent is “ a mere figurehead, only the chief warder running the place.” The chief warder was acting head for a time during the absence or the superintendent on sick leave. I was invited to an afternoon sports meeting at the camp held at, Otara during that time, and there found a different atmosphere than when visiting the Borstal itself. In justice to those who arranged the camp, I must say it was splendidly equipped, and the organisation was good. I think, in fairness to Mrs Pollock, I should say this. Before I go further, I %vant it to be clear that I am not attacking the management of the Invercargill Borstal; it is the system existing in New Zealand that I am attacking. No superintendent could run the'Borstal as it should be run under the present system—a system under the wrong department. Imagine our High School being under the Prisons Department, and imagine warders for masters! Mr Cobbe criticised my first letter without hesitation, but when I put certain questions to him he chooses the attitude of silence instead of substantiating his statements. I suggested to Mr Cobbe that he had either been misinformed or had been kept in ignorance of the conditions existing between the superintendent and his staff at the Invercargill Borstal, and that he should seek information from the Acting Controller-general of Prisons. I also questioned his remarks about Mr Weldon’s comparison between the English Borstal system and that of New Zealand. The question of solitary confinement was also asked. One would have thought that if this barbarous punishment was not resorted to that Mr Cobbe would have hastened to deny it. Then there was the question of adult prisoners being kept at the Invercargill Borstal. I asked why boya on remand are often kept at an ordinary gaol before being sentenced. Several other questions were asked, but as yet we get no answer from Mr Cobbe. Is Mr Cobbe afraid to answer them? la he afraid of the public opinion if he acknowledges these conditions to be true? _ I suggest that the newspapers, the voices of the public, take the matter up and demand an inquiry, and, further, that the whole system be revised. In justice to the boys and girls, let me insist that the Borstals be Borstals and not prisons; that a sufficient s Pl rlt “ a f help be given to the inmates; and that the Borstals be taken from under the Prisons Department; We shall never have our Borstals run as Borstals while they, are under this department. Let Ug also insist on a properly-trained stair and proper medical attention from a psychological point of view for the iumates. The public’s money •in large sums is being spent on our so-called Borstal, and we have a right to see that it is spent on Borstals, and not on prisons. If there is not. sufficient money set apart to run our ■ Borstals under a proper system and in the right way, more •money should be set aside for this purpose. We are wasting money as things are, and this means a false economy. I am. etc., _ K. •D. Andbews-Baxtee. Invercargill, June 27.