PRISON CAMPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22352, 28 August 1934, Page 9

PRISON CAMPS

AN EPIDEMIC OF ESCAPES DETERRENT SENTENCE IMPOSED. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. August 27.. "There has been almost an epidemic of escaping from prison camps. These * are offences which cause considerable exr pense and trouble to the prison authorities in the scattered districts where the camps are and also anxiety among the community in the vicinity,” said Mr V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, when Charles Mitchell Newman was brought • before Mr Justice Fair at the Supreme Court to-day for sentence for escaping from the prison camp at Rangipo, near . Tokaanu. "I respectfully suggest that in the past the sentences have not been -> a great deterrent,” he added. ■ , His Honor: The escape affects the re- • duction in sentence for good behaviour. ;' Mr Meredith said that was so to some extent, but be suggested that the punish- y ment should be such as would have a de- : terrent ‘effect and make prisoners in r camps not so prone to escape as in the past, 1 , His Honor said the prisoner was a young man and had been sentenced in Christchurch in June last to three years’ ( imprisonment. After a month he escaped. Most prisoners recognised the virtues of good conduct and that they were treated well in the prison camps. The best thing which any prisoner could do was to submit to his sentence and reduce the punishment as much as he could by good conduct. His Honor added that he was bound to impose a sentence which would he a deterrent to the prisoner and others. He would be sentenced to a further term of 12 months’ imprisonment.