NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9320, 21 August 1908, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PRISONS.

ANNUAL REPORT. [Fkom Our Cohrespondext.] AVELLINGTON, August 21. ' The annual report of the Inspector of Prisons to the Minister of Justice was presented to Parliament thi6 afternoon. He remarks that it is surprising but gratifying to find how few complaints there are of real moment on the part of prisoners, and he looks forward with pleasure to the time when cases of intemperates and acute alcoholism, supposed to be luuacy, will no longer bo sent to the> prisons for medical treatment. The First Offenders Act continues to give satisfaction, and it is believed that the Act has clone more to save those just entering upon a career of crime from a downward course than could have been expected from its most sanguine promoters. At the commencement of the year, the prison population consisted of 812 males and f 9 females, a decrease of 48 males and an increaso of four females. Tho actual number of persons who passed through the prisons during the i year was- 1 5076 males and 465 females, a considerable decrease on the previous year. As to the punishment of prisoners, the report states that it has very seldom been found necessary to place offenders on bread arid water for any length of time, the deprivation of remission marks, with the loss pf tobacco, etc., generally meted out sufficient punishments for offences. There are a few dangerous and refractory prisoners who liave^ to beyfcept under separate treatment^-piciung oakum or some other suitable work. As to tho Habitual Criminals Act, the report states that since it came into force some of the gaol-birds have flown from the do-' minion and others are earning an honest living, so that there is reason to hope that the list of habitual criminals will never be a very long one.