PRISON LABOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13078, 19 May 1913, Page 3

PRISON LABOR.

TREE-PLANTING CAMPS

(Per Press Association.}

WELLINGTON, this day. In the course of his evidence before the Forestry Commission to-day, Mr Jordan, Under-Secretary for Justice, stated that t'he employment of prison labor by the Department had been satisfactory. It seemed to be the only thing that had any reformative influence whatever on prisoners. Some prisoners did not like the camp, and had asked- to be taken back to the gaol. They found they had to work too hard, and wah ted to be back m the towns, where they could hear the latest news. U had to be remembered that the cost of prisoners m camps wa/s almost double that of "the average gaols. The Justice Department was not allowed anything for the work of prisoners. The Hanmer tree-planting camp was the least possible of those run by the Department. "It o'ocuirred to me," witness added, "that We might close it up. In fact, we propose to do so as far as the Department is concerned."

In reply to questions, witness said •that it would be better to have one camp m each island, and concentrate on tree-planting by means of prison labor. *

Dr. Hay Inspector of Mental Hospitals and Prisons, quoted figures showing that m 1911 the cost .of planting 1000 trees, including clearing the ground and digging pits, was £1 5s at Waitapu, £2 6s at Hanmer, and £1 19s at Waipa.