BORSTAL PRISONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 13

BORSTAL PRISONERS.

ALLEGATION OF ILL-TREATMENT. WELLINGTON, May 2. Questioned respecting the alleged illtreatment of an escaped Borstal inmate by warders when captured at Invercargill recently, Mr B. L. Dallard (Con-troller-general of Prison) said that arrangements had been made for a departmental inquiry to be held by Mr G. Cruickshank, stipendiary magistrate at Invercargill. Mr Dallard remarked that he did not care to prejudice the case, but the reports received indicated that the affair had been grossly exaggerated. In order to reassure the relatives of inmates and others who would naturally be disquieted at the published reports, Mr Dallard said that he could state without fear of contradiction by anyone competent to express an opinion that the Borstal Institution at Invercargill had been run during the past few years on the most enlightened and humane lines, calculated to develop in the majority of the inmates a sense of self-respect and responsibility. He mentioned that prior to these recent escapes there had not been a single escape for over 12 months. When the wide extent to which the inmates are on trust was considered he said this alone spoke volumes.

“ The siTperintendent of the institution at Invercargill is a man who has the complete respect and confidence of the inmates, and he has the interests of the lads thoroughly at heart,” Mr Dallard added. “I can say definitely that such treatment as that alleged is entirely foreign to the present policy of the administration.” .