RECLAIMING OF PRISONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 30

RECLAIMING OF PRISONERS.

DOMINION BRANCH OF HOWARD ' ' LEAGUE. ... " : ' WORK ENDORSED BY MINISTER. T , ... . WELLINGTON, March 28. lhe Minister of Justice (Mr F J Rolleston) this morning, in declaring open a conference for the purpose of constitutin', a New Zealand branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform, assured his hearers of the co-operation of the Prisons Department in work directed towards an improvement of the Dominion’s penal sys , In acknowledging the welcome accorded him, Mr Rolleston said it was always a pleasure, to help those who wer e banded together in a philanthropic' purpose, and he hoped that his presence would be taken an indication to the delegate® that the Department of Justice, which had control of the prisons of the Dominion was, m the mam in sympathy with the objects of the league. Indeed, it could not very, well be otherwise, for the chief aims and objects of the department must necessarily be the same as those of the league. It. might be, he continued, that members of the league thought the department was slow in effecting the reforms they would like to see made. If was only natural that development should be slow, and he did not want them to feel discouraged if the department did "not always immediately give effect to their suggestions. It was a very good purpose to make suggestions so as to..'ensure that the department did not fall 'behind. The department might take a slightly different view, and might consider some suggestions impracticable or perhaps it might be a matter of resources. All. sugges tions,. however, would be considered in the same sincere and earnest spirit in which they were put forward, The de.partment was actuated by the spirit of co-operation with the league, but it had its difficulties It was trying honestly to make- a forward move in the reclamation of prisoners, and he was satisfied that a greatjdeal had been done .in that direction in the last two years In passing, Mr Rolleston gave credit to Sir John Findlay for what he had done as Minister of Justice, and he.added, that the department was endeavouring; to improve on nis work.

BRANCH OF LEAGUE FORMED. ' WELLINGTON, March 28. .The conference of branches of the Howard League decided to form a New Zealand league and affiliate with th e English league. A central executive was appointed as follows:—Patron, Lady Alice Fergusson ; ■ president. Sir John Findlay vicepresidents—Archbishop O'Shea, Miss Jean Begg, Mr J Mason, M.P.’Miss B E. Baughan; hon. secretary. Miss Baughan ; hon. treasurer. Mr Stratford • committee—the Rev. Jasper Calder, Mr r Moreton, and Miss Hawley. REMITS ADOPTED. WELLINGTON, March 29 Hie remits carried to-day by delegates at the first annual conference of branches of tue Howard League for Penal Reform are as follow: — ‘‘That the Government appoint travelling psychiatric clinics for New Zealand as suggested by the inspector general for mental hospitals (Dr Gray) in his recent report on mental deficiency, and that it also pass a registration act for the protection of the feeble minded, with severe penalties for interference with them. “That there is practicaly no difference between the treatment in prison for prisoners sentenced to hard labour and those offenders, sentenced to reforma tive detention, and the league urges that those at present undergoing reformative detention be given special individual treatment whenever found practicable, and that in future the distinction be made real.” “ That in passing sentence all accused persons should be apprised of their rights in the matter of obtaining legal aid and bail bv notices in police cells, and that a rota of solicitors willing to defend without fee be also prominently displayed.” ■“That there should be at least one women placed on the Prisons Board, as has been successfully done in other countries.’’ I “ That in a case of a maintenance border the court should have power to nlace a lien on the wages of defaulters in favour of their wife and children and collect the money as it becomes due “ That, in our opinion, better facilities should be available for -uch . prisoners, whether under remand or undergoing sentence, and that where medical or mental observation is ordered by the courts this should be undertaken, not in a prison, but in a properly-qualified institution.” “ That this league recommends that all senior warders and matrons be trained in a course of first aid.’’ ; ‘“That inasmuch as an accused person should be treated as innocent until proved guilty, special accommodation should be provided for him outside the ordinary prison system.”-