PRISON REFORM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12122, 9 August 1895, Page 2

PRISON REFORM.

[By EiiVo.Rio Tes.b_&_p7i~- Copyright.] (Per Press Association ) Sydkey, August 8. Mr Abigail bas commenced a eerioß of articles on priaon reform. In the firat ho Btates tho chiif cause of tho disappointing results of a reformatory oharacter in giola is tbo want of a proper system of classification. Another important cause is that with somo exceptors it is easily teen when you meet a number of warders that the system is manned by the least fitted olaes of mon for suoh work. He dorß not any all aro unfit for tbo service, but that the maj .rity sot themselves tho work of degrading thoso over whom they are placat, Mr Ab'gail believes that in most cases, if inquired into, it would bo found these actions are ths result of ignorance as to how to firmly carry out duty and y.t treat tho men cs men, and not as many do now who treit. tbem worse than doga. Mr Abigail, dealing with solitary confiaepicnt, states thcro are fow men who go through the traatment, botfovor strong ut starting, but coma out more or leu affected in the ruind. Of course the authorities tako no notice of tbis whilo thoy appear hirmlrss, apd it ia only whon tbey develop dangerous, 'tendencies that they aro sent under observation When tbey get noiey and f cream out, as mahy do, tbe men who are doing tfieir nine months' solitary in the same wing h-sve t. lislna to tbe ories ..and ehricliß of thejmaclme-'bslow, Eto rogarda it as true tMi many men- are forced into e.i'pe aniL/criminal associations by a first unju t cfipige and Bays many men told him how first an injustice- plunged them iate wrong doing, nnd how sapl asscp'ations ora^hed ou»> of tbeir n-tiiro'^all that wpa right and goo), and now. said tbat while tbov livo they will bo ob!e to punjab sooioty for the wrong it has done. Item. Tbe writer continues that frpm his ov»n obse-ra* lion, tie ab)te tprriblo jadjetmsnt is absolute Irt-th