THE PRISON SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25386, 18 November 1943, Page 6

THE PRISON SYSTEM

Sir,—l read with interest Sir Hubert Ostler’s defence of the present prison system. I have recently been discharged from one of the North Island prisons after serving over a year, and in that time I was in three prisons and numerous lockups. I hope to correct a few of Sir Hubert’s statements. I agree that the medical examination is a time-wasting bit of formalism, but the blame for that should not be brought up against Dr McMillan. It should be against the medical officer. As long as we were not in a hurry there was adequate attention for minor ills, but I would not have liked to have an illness that took a bit of diagnosing, as the doctors always were in a hurry to get away. If the prison authorities did not have anything to hide, they would not have to censor all in and out-going mails as they do, and six letters a week would be no trouble at all. As a matter of interest they have cut down the letters to two a week to near relations and one a fortnight to friends on account of paper shortage. At least that is the reason they give. If every prison has a common room, there was only one that I was in which we were allowed to use. Maybe Sir Hubert is calling the room a common room that is used for church, etc., at the main prisons in the South and North Islands. In the main prisons a prisoner is locked up in his cell from 4.30 p.m. in winter and 5 p.m. in summer till about 7.45 a.m. It does not help him to allow him all that time to brood in his cell. Why should Dr McMillan be blamed for the brutal attack on the warders in Mount Eden? Would Sir Hubert also blame him for a brutal attack on a prisoner in Mount Crawford? Is it not a fact that recently there was an inquiry into another prisoner being beaten? Of course, the warder was acquitted, as the prisoner is always wrong in the eyes of the law. Sir Hubert states that prisoners are allowed to consult an optician and be fitted with suitable glasses, if necessary, and pay for them out of his earnings. That sounds very magnaminous, but as they receive only 6d per working day (no pay for wet weather) it would take a while for them to get sufficient money. Moreover, the first three months are worked for nothing. I cannot agree with Sir Hubert when he states that prisoners in lock-ups fare just as well as constables. I would like to ask only three questions on that point; (1) Is any pudding never provided for constables? (2) Do constables get only stew or sausages? (3) For tea do they only have three or four thin sandwiches and a mug of tea? This was all that I received in the Christchurch lock-up when I was there for three days. When it is said that all the heads of the prisons throughout New Zealand have the welfare of prisoners at heart, I would like to know if it was for a prisoner's health that he was given 50 to 00 days' solitary confinement on bread and water for refusing to salute a head? The only time that man was allowed out of his cell was for an hour’s exercise every fourth day. Of course, that was not brutal or pin-pricking! I am glad that at least Dr McMillan is not satisfied with the present conditions in prisons, borstals, etc. May a few more public men come to light in condemning conditions in some, or most, of these places.—l am, etc.. Just Out. November 16. Sir, —In contrast to the high-handed attitude of Sir Hubert Ostler towards Dr McMillan’s criticism of the prison system it is encouraging to note that the Minister of Health has been receptive to constructive criticism of our mental hospital system and has planned to rectify deficiencies. Does the Minister of Prisons intend to follow his commendable example?—l am, etc., G - N< c - Dunedin, Nov. 17.