THE PENAL CODE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 6

THE PENAL CODE

DEPARTMENT’S WISHES IMPROVEMENT IN SYSTEM I Per Press Association. 1 ’ WELLINGTON, Alareh 28. Assurance of the co-operation of the Prisons Department in any work directed towards the improvement of the penal system was given by the Alinister of justice (Hon. Rolleston) to-day, in declaring open a conference for the purpose of constituting a New Zealand branch of the Howard League for Penal Reform. z The Alinister said they had now advanced to the stage when they realised that prison work was reformative and not punitive. They had advanced a good deal in New Zealand in the last two years and he thought they had reached a stage when they realised that the great desideratum in treating prisoners was to help them to reform. The Department was sympathetic and would welcome the suggestion as it was actuated by a spirit of co-operation with the League but it had its difficulties.

It was honestly trying to make a forward move in the reclamation of prisoners. The Alinister gave credit for what Sir John Findlay had done, and said the Department was endeavouring to improve on his work.