PRISON REFORM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 110, 15 June 1914, Page 8

PRISON REFORM.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. OUTLINED BY MINISTER OF JUSTICE. Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 15. Interviewed by a " Post'' reporter on the subject of prison reform, the Hon. A. L. Herdman said the work of construction of the large prison at Waikeria, near Te Awamutu, was proceeding apace. It was estimated that when it is completed it would hold 250 prisoners, and then the accommodation required at Wellington would be for not more than 100 men. The policy for the North Island was to have a large gaol at Auckland, another at Waikeria, a gaol at New Plymouth for habituals, and a small place at Gisborne, a prison near Wellington would be large enough for 100 short sentence and waiting trial prisoners. The South Island requirements would be met by the Invercargill prison, a small prison at Dunedin, a large prison in Canterbury about Templeton, and a women's prison at Addington. Prison camps have been established at Waimarino, Invercargill, and Mount Eden, and these prisons would be added to. When the programme of new prisons is completed the conditions obtaining should be quite satisfactory. As to complaints by prisoners, the Minister said that gaols were never intended to be luxurious, and it was not the intention of the Department to make them so. When the prison building policy was completed accommodation would be provided for 860 prisoners in the North Island, and 445 in the South Island.