The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGEGUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1900.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 775, 9 October 1900, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGEGUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1900.

There are few subjects of greater interest to statesmen and philanthropists than that involved in the question as to the best means of dealing with the criminal section of the population. All are agreed that the ideal system, yet to be found, shall be such as shall be deterrent, reformatory and punitive. It is not a great many years since the last-named was the only consideration. To-day the error appears to be somewhat in the opposite direction. A short digest of the proceedings at an International Prison Congress, held in Brussels, in August last, is before us. A very lively discussion appears to have arisen as to the practicability or otherwise of securing from the offender reparation to the injured party. This was admitted by all the speakers and essayists to be a very important branch of the subject, but also one of extreme difficulty and complexity, so much so that the Congress admitted that it could only recommend experimental procedure, although it was shown that reparation was a prominent feature amongst the Israelites and other nations of antiquity. One contributor of a paper, an eminent Italian jurist, and others suggested the appropriation of the fines received by the State from offenders to this object. The Belgian Inspector of Prisons suggested that the conditional liberation of prisoners should be entirely dependent upon their giving some kind of guarantee that on discharge they would make some kind of reparation to their victims. Another official of equally high standing and experience, was decidedly opposed to this idea, and instanced the case of a man who had knocked out a man's eye, and thus inflicted an irreparable injury. He said: "Is it fair that the offender shall obtain the favour of conditional liberation, while the victim suffers the loss of his eye for life." The main difficulty was felt to be with the class of offenders, who possessing little or no property of their own, are positively unable to make amends to their victims, yet it was felt that the latter have a strong claim to reparation from some quarter. One of the Congress read a paper in which he maintained that as the State exacts from criminals, in general, a measure of punitory satisfaction to the public security by their imprisonment, therefore the State should recognise the principle and obligation of reparation by awarding some very moderate sum to the injured person, in some exact proportionate to the duration of the imprisonment, the funds to come either out of the aggregate of the fines or from the State direct.

Another matter discussed was that of indeterminate sentences especially as carried out in some of the United States in a certain class of adult reformatories, such as that at Elruira in New York. Four American delegates advocated and explained the system as in operation in their country, the chief object of which, as J udge Eollett remarked was specially calculated to enlist the will of the prisoner, and added that unless the will be won in favour of amendment and good effort the idea of real reformation is a delusion. The Con gress showed every desire to recognise the claims of the American system, but thought that the recent introduction of the plan and the absence of statistics, made it better to adjourn the matter to a further Congress. This decision was influenced by Dr. Hint racer's repurts on the American Reformatory Prisons. Ho was sent last year by his Governmt to America for the purpose of reporting on these prisons. He says ho greatly admired the American desire to " givo every man a fair chance ; " yet he could not but feel that at Elmira an extreme latitude is permitted in reference to . the " indeterminateness " of liberation. He stated that he was there when three prisoners were admitted, whoso sentences were respectively for 20, for 10 and for live years. The Governor told them that irrespective of their several sentences they would all have it in their power by good behaviour to discharge themselves in one year and a few months. Dr. Ilintrager also made the discovery that at Elmira it is the practice in some cases to make a prisoner a present of a number of " good marks," which he has never really earned. The supposition that these marks were influenced by the " Almighty dollar" will be accepted by every man who knows anything of American methods. One of the subjects discussed was the management of reformatory and industrial schools. Mr Heymann, of New Orltans, strenuously

advocated manual labour especially : in " sloyd, " or the use of tools as the main object rather than the immediately profitable production of saleable goods. One delegate dwelt upon the general value of agricultural training for the inmates of reformatory and industrial schools. He preferred this to the teaching of trades, because of the healthiness of the occupation, also because it is desirable to kcop the young people away from the temptations and evil associations of towns. Such Congresses as that at Brussels, on matters affecting the public weal are useful, not so much for the resolutions arrived at as for the interchange of opinions between experts on any particular subject, and it is well that these opinions should have the fullest publicity.

Miscellaneous items on our fourth page.

As will be seen from an advertisement in this issue, the annual accounts and balance-sheet for the Borough of Hamilton are open for inspection at the Town Clerk'3 office during office hours.

Mr C. Colson, surgeon dentist, of Auckland, has a business notice in this issue. Mr Colson has studied his profession at the University of Penyelvania, Philadelphia, and at the National Dental Hospital, Loudon,

Within the last year an ancient grave was discovered near Rome aud opened. Iu it was found the skeleton of a woman with a complete set of\ false teeth, displaying admirable workmanship and wrought out of solid gold.

A meeting of the residents of Cambridge and neighbourhood, to consider the most convenient pla:e for the new bridge, will be held on Friday next, at 8 p.m., iu the Cambridge Public Hall. His Worship the Mayor will preside-.

We remind indending exhibitors at the forthcoming Waikato Show that entries close on Saturday next, 13th inst., with Mr E. Hall, Auckland; Messrs McNicol and Co., Hamilton ; Mr O, F. Pilling, VVaihou ; or the Secretary (Mr M. Buttler), Cambridge.

We draw special attention to the entries of cattle advertised by Mr W. T. Raymond for his sales at the Judea and Te Puke Yards. As stock is easier in thdse districts than in Waikato, it would prcbably repay buyers to visit both sales.

It is evident that it will hot be long before the fruit season is again with us, as it will be seen that Messrs Hall and Perkins, auctioneers, of Auckland, are again in the Waikato. As this firm is very pushing and progressive, no doubt they will get a large share of fruit. Mr Perkins advertises he will be glad to meet anybody. Mr J. C. McCrea, of the Hamilton Post-office, who has lwen relieving Mr J. P. Vaose at Te Awamutu, absent on sick leave, returned to his ordinary duties this morning, and Mr Long, postmaster at Hamilton, who has been laid up with bronchitis, returned to work yesterday, so that the Hamilton office will now be fully staffed.

A grand concert and dramatic entertainment will be given under the auspices of thn Waikato Hunt Club by the Cambridge Comedy Company in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Wednesday and Thursday, 18th and 19th October. We understand that a capital programme is in preparation, and no doubt full particulars will be published in a future issue.

The dedication of the new church of St. Barnahus, at Whatawhato, will take place at 7-30 p.m. on Thursday, 18th inst. Tne Rev. H. D. Major will con. duct the service, and the musical part will be rendered by the choir of St. Peter's, Hamilton. Later in the evening there will be a concert and re-union in the Public Hal), for which a capital programme has been preparedM. Roseingrave, an ex-Irish

hurdler, has consented to remain in Auckland in order to compete at the Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club's November carnival. He will meet Geo. Smith in the hurdle contests, which will decide the championship ot Australasia. Other well-known competitors have signified their iutentiou of taking part in the carnival,

Owing to the wretched state of the weather on Saturday last, the attendance at the meeting of the Te Awamutu branch of the Waikato Farmers' Club was somewhat small. In was decided to adjourn the meeting until Wednesday evening next, to be held in the Te Awamutu To.wn Hall, at 7.30 p.m., when all farmers and others interested no doubt'will make it a point to attend, as thejbusiness will be important.