THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Tuesday, November 22, 1910. PRISON REFORM.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12956, 22 November 1910, Page 2

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Tuesday, November 22, 1910. PRISON REFORM.

An interesting paper containing a full explanation of the Hon. Dr Piindlay's scheme of prison reform was laid on the table, in each House last week. The main features of the proposals have been sketched and commented upon previously in these columns,. and the detailed explanation of the Minister's intentions, and his hopes of practical reform, only serve to confirm the belief we then expressed that the scheme is the result of long and earnest study of the subject. Effective prison reform is one of the most diffi- ! cult social questions of the day," and all innovations are to a large extent experimental ; their value can only be ascertained by observation of their operation. On the other hand, wherever the system now employed in New Zealand is practised, we see constant efforts to evolve something different, and bear, constant complaints that it raakesr genuine reform' of the criminal all but impossible. Any scheme which promises better resuits is not to be looked upon with suspicion if it involves in some respects radical changes in our practice in dealing with law breakers, for the one thing in regard ' to t/be subject which admits of no dispute is that radical changes are necessary. : The 'one "bright spot in our. present prison ' system is the prison camp, in which the felon who really desires 1 to become 'a reformed character/is given every : encouragement to do so. The rareness of instances o£ serious misconduct on the part of prisoners' detained in these" establish-' merits proves that the privileges they are> permitted in the way of reasonable freedom of -action, privacy, and so on,' are' appreciated, and justifies "the hope 1 that similar improvements might bo introduced in the ordinary gaols without interfering unduly with discipline, or obscuring the punitive object of imprisonment. Before such, reforms could be . attempted j.. a., very complete classification of prisoners would of course be- necessary, and 1 this is provided for by Dr Findlay!s scheme. He divides criminals into eleven classes, which will -be treated in institutions of six. different; kinds,;: the nature of which '"has beeii doscntj-"'-,cd on, previous occasions. , ;Th«thre6 classes to ber dearth '.^vitih. " •■ in ordinary . gaols ■ will be kept separate as far as possible. The prisoners will work at different industries, the object being to diroct their minds into channels -which are out of sympathy with and in no Avay suggest their former manner of T.ife; for instance, cracksmen are mot employed at stone dressing or where blasting is carried" on. The prison population is debited with the entire cost of the Prisons Department. v The cost is wotrked .out in detail, and each prisoner is shown the cost ho is debit- . ed with. To discharge this debit each prisoner must perform lira daily task so as not to incur debit marking. Every credit mark has a monetary value: 'Die relief of the dependents of the prisoner is made a first charge upon his earnings. .Prisoners may. purchase for themselves certain comforts and food, but earnings so spent have not so great a purchasing power_ as in the public market. 'Prisoners may allow their ''earnings "to accumulate and rel .All..d©bits incurred' for breaches of the rules are met before any appropriation from credit,- .is... made. The cost of any entertainment provided by the institution is debited to the prisoners- benefiting. The industries suggested are : Stone-maisonry, ironmoulding, . tinware, making: book covers, and bootriiaking. When the requirements of the; prison buildings now being greeted"* are completed the work- of quarrying and dressing building stone will be carried out in connection with other public buildings. Crushing stone for road making is also to be carried on ai one of the penitentiaries, ' and workshops will be estabCished. Suitable pro-r, grammes are laid down for the. camps and .agricultural and industrial fefor-^ matories.' One central.prison will be provided for the detention of females. It will be conducted in two division**; one as a reformatory, the mother as a; prison or penitentiary. To the reformatory are committed all woman regarded by the Court as hopeful. They will be engaged in industrial and educational "work-. N To the penitentiary are committed all women deemed to be ■habitual: and- "incorrigble. criminals. These women .are classified: according to age] conduct, and the <iharact«r of their crimes, ..and are employed in knitting socks and making shirts for prisohera, -making mattresses and piilows, and hemnling' sheets' and pillbw cases for the public service, laundry work, raising -vegetables, and keeping poultry. Curtain private agencies re-' gistered under the Prisons Act niay be;utiUsed in Ide^lju^r^thfthat dass of prisone*rs whichidoes not need severe discipline. The scheme as a whole is,; as we have said, of necessity to a large extent experimental, but it offers a chance of 'genuine reform which is. certainly weJl worth trying.