PRISON REFORM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 85, 30 May 1911, Page 4

PRISON REFORM.

AN AUSTRALIAN SCHEME. (Received 30, • 8.55 a.m.) Sydney, May 30. Mr. Holman, lecturing before the Royal Society, outlined important prison reforms. He said it had been found that hard-labour diet had been inadequate for a strong man, and it would have to be altered. Consumptive prisoners would receive outdoor scientific treatment. In order that the prisoners’ wives and families should not suffer, prisoners would be compelled to do remunerative work, and thus repair the wrong done to society. He would introduce an experiment of afforestation by ex-prisoners, as was done in New Zealand, whore it was highly successful. He intended" to establish free camps, conducted by the Government, where released men would go straight from gaol and earn 8s a day. This would do wonders to complete the reformatory system. He was arranging for the abolition of the Supreme Court circuits in the country, and instead would send Judges shortly after a prisoner’s commitment on serious charges, in order to prevent unjust waiting and congestion of litigation in Sydney. A Court of Criminal Appeal would be established; also, the Executive would bo relieved of the duty of deciding whether capital sentences should bo carried out, transferring the responsibility to a tribunal of Supremo Court Judges, presided over by the Chief Justice.