THE PRISON AT TRENTHAM

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16455, 6 June 1919, Page 5

THE PRISON AT TRENTHAM

EXPLANATION BY MR. WILFORD. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 5. . Romo opposition having boon made to the Justice Department's proposal to establish a prison,in the Trcntham area for good conduct prisoners, the Hon. Wilford, in a statement to the press, says he intends to do away with the Terraco Gaol, Wellington, .the wmtien’s quarters of which are out of date and inadequate. The,. Napier prison has been sold to the Napier Borough Council to be demolished and added to tho esplanade reserve, and the Minister also hopes to do awiiy with the Wanganui prison.. Cabinet has authorised him to select a. central site on tho railway route, and a block of three hundred acres of mountainous country, swamp land, and a small area of stony ground had been secured in tho vicinity of Trcntham and christened by Mr. Wilford “Witako” (named after an old Maori chief at the Mutt). Tho soil from the hills had been tested and had produced a brick which the Minister declares is second to none in_ New Zealand. Making bricks by prisoners will not interfere with private enterprise, hut will fill the requirements of the Government departments. Mr. Milford states that the land chosen is at prosed entirely unsuitable lor small holdings or settlement of any kind. The site of the proposed camp is a mile from the Heretaunga post office. The entrance, a section near the railway, will he laid out as a garden with a central drive. The .Minister considers there has been some hyper-sensi-tiveness among well-meaning people.