DOMINION PRISON CAMPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 3

DOMINION PRISON CAMPS.

WAIPA AND WAIOTAPU. (Fkosi Oils Own OcßMvepoxDEvr ) AUCKLAND, April 3. Colonel G. Hearn, of the Metropolitan L risonere' Aid Society, who has boon making an extended tour of New Zealand prisons with a view to studying the methods adopted in the Dominion for the safe custody of criminals and their reformation, has recently visited the prison camps at Waipa Valley and Waiotapu. Colonel Hearn to-day gave an interesting account of his visit to these two camps to a reporter. The Waipa camp, about eight miles from Ivotorua, situated on Lake fiotokokahi (the Green Lake), is reached after a pleasant drive through the Rotorua nursery (which supplies the young trees) and through the plantation 'already laid down by the prisoners. It is caul by Colonel Hearn to be an ideal spot for a holiday, though possibly the present inmates of the camp did not think so. The camp has been moved to its present site during the pact four years. . The staff consists of the aoting-gaoler and throe warders. There was accommodation for 33 prisoners, and at present there were 26, the average being about 20. Each man had his own hut, which was so constructed that it can be moved as necessity arises. There was a large vegetable garden more than sufficient for the camp requirements, and bread, meat, and groceries wero supplied from Rotorua. There was a permanent cookhouse, stable. and assembly hall, which were transferrer by the Forestry Department when tha camps were moved further afield. Only first offenders are kept in the Waipa Valley camp, and the average daily lumber of prisoners employed during the year ended 31st March last was between 10 and 11, and during the period since the camp started between 11 and 12. Waiotapu camp, 22 miles from Rotorua, was much larger, and the occupants wero prisoners with more than one con- 1 viction. The staff consisted of an actinggaoler and five warders, the number of prisoners there now being 34, a hough there wa3 accommodation for 61. Tha average daily number was-under 34. This camp was started in 1901, and was moved to its present site in 1908. Here tho prisoners bake their own bread, kill their own meat, and grow their own vegetables. With the exception of flour and groceries, the camp is self-supporting. The c;;inp is to he moved to the Kaingaroa Plains, 13 miles away, and already one ofTh or and six prisoners have been transfer make preliminary arrangements : change in September or October next. The average number of prisoners employed here during the year was between 23 and 24, and over the whole period between 27 and 28 Colonel Hearn stated that to one accustomed to deal with the criminal class in the Old Country it is very noticeable that these prisoners at the camps looked not only well, but in the pink of condition. At Home the majority of the prisoners came from a class whose forefathers had filled the prisons, and who had become degenerated. The work at the camps was hard, but it was open-air work, and the rations were good and liber:'.!. That the work was bein.; well done was testified to by the fact that tha Forestry Department was not only satisfied, but wanted more prison laboi r, In conclusion, he stated that he was well satisfied with the work carried in the prison camps, and he paid :i "*'- bute of praise to Messrs Down and Fx:ggett, the efficient officers who had charge of the camps. He expressed the hope that the authorities would soon bo able to extend the camp system, more especially with female prisoners. Assuming that some suitable occupation could h>: found for them, he felt sure that tho healthy open-air life and reformatory treat! ent would improve their physical and ■ ral status.