THE PRISONS of NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3318, 13 October 1871, Page 2

THE PRISONS of NEW ZEALAND .

TO THE EDITOE OF THH INDEPENDENT *

Sib, — Of the many subjects to be brought before our legislature during the present session of the Gf-eneral Assembly, the above is one long hold as requiring consideration, and whioh both as a colonist and one having had almost a lifetime of experience in military discipline in general, but more particularly in connexion with prisons, I hope will not be longer orerlooked or considered of minor importance amongst the many weighty considerations already crowded upon the attention of the Executive.

So far back as in the year 1867 a commission consisting of two of the most distinguished Judges of the Supreme Court of the colony, and three mombfirs of the Legislative Assembly, were appointed to enquire into this subject. The necessity for a chunge in the exist* ing management was recommended, as also that one or more penal prisons should bo created with the least possible delay.

At that time I entirely agreed with the report of the commission ; so I do now in the necessity for an early change in the existing management. But in the matter of creating a penal pridon or prisons I would recommend delay, and on the following grounds :—Thedecrease of serious crime, the freedom of the colony from the presence of hardened offenders,, the safe immurement of most of those who infested the provinces at the time of the first gold excitement in Otugo, «<«d last, " but not least," the question whether at present the co'.ony can bear the expense of what will necessarily be a very costly uud34*ttkin£.

On other grounds also I would, urge delay,, ue in the present transition stats of the colony the scheme could not now be wisely carried out. The Government plan of colonisation will effect great changes— changos which will necessitate modification and alterations in the recommendations of the commissioners.

Allow the work of colonisation to be fairly begun, and the wisddin of delay will be seen. Tiien, and then only, can the site or sites be wisely chosen, i.e, so chosen aa not to clash with free labor, and yet so thab while the principal object (reformation of the prisoners) is attained, the labor of the convicts would be made aa remunerative a 9 possible, aud of benefit, not to a particular province or plaoe, but to the colony as a whole. lam confident that if this delay ia made, none of the sites at present recommended will be chosen, and that if the work is now commenced it will be a subject of after regret. What is now needed, and needed urgently, is reform in tho management of the existing gaols, to achieve which the prisoners should all be brought under one control with one code of regulations for the management and discipline o( all, in so far as the resources of the different prisons will admit. To discharge the duties of gaoler efficiently is a tusk more arduous than ia generally considered. The laws an regulations, as afc present, are scattered and complicated. Provincial rule differs in many instances from the lasts of the Assembly ; nor do tho acts of the Assembly in all things enable gaolors to enforce its laws. It is, therefore, that one dear and concise code of regulations should, as early as possible, be procluimed for the whole of the colony. Under present arrangements the want of uniformity increases the cost of maintenance and decreases the means of ensuring the objects of prison discipline. The division of the " tenders " for the supply of clothing, tools, &c, increases the cost considerably. The allowing prisoners to labor in townaand centres of populations has the worst possible effect upon the public and on the prisoners themselves. One uniform system of dress (climate considered) should be" worn, the material to bo in as much possible of New Zealand manufacture. The officers also should have the same uniform dreas throughout the colony. The clothing, whether made or in the raw material, should be issued from head-quarters, which Bhould be at the seat, of U-overnment. The regulations, whioh should be clear and explicit, might iwcludo in one volume all the many acts and ordinances at present in force, with one uniform ration scale. I favor a fairly liberal one for those employed at " hard labor," as their work should be made to at least equal tho labor of hard-working honest free men. _

The practice now common of keeping prisoners after sentence in lock-ups to wait on police and magistrates should be abolished, and the prisoners forwarded to the principal gaol in the district. The freedoms necessarily allowed to those prisoners render their sentence no punishment, and has even a bad effect upon the public who see thorn. An inspector of prisons should bo appointed, with head office at the Seat of G-overnment, and whose duty it would be at stated intervals to visit every gaol in the colony. The law as at present relating to imprisonod debtors under the Resident Magistrates Act Amendment Act, 1868, seed >n 14, as compared with the 10th section of the Prison Ordinance, should be clearly defined ; also the distinction between this class of prisoners and prisoners under sentence in dofauit of bail ; and in how fnr the first portion of the 19th section of the Welliugton G-aol regulations apply to the latter class of prisoners. The prisoners should, where practicable, be employed upon works of general not local benefit. Provision should be made for enabling them by good conduct and by extra or skilled labor to earn a small sum of money, so that on being liberated they would not havo to go out upon the world entirely penniless ; or, in the case of male prisoners, that they should be provided with labor on the nearest public works, with one months' work (subject to their conduct) for every twelve niontha they may have served in gaol. Ranks for the officers should be properly defined, and the staff placed under the provisions of the Civil Service Act, so that officers might have the hope of promotion, and have that feeling of security which induceß greater attention to duties.

Power should, as was formerly the case, be given to gaolers to discharge debtors upon the satisfaction of the debt and costs, without the formalities now necessary. Much injustice and loss is often occasioned to debtors by the delay now necessary. Another matter is 'with reference to debtors' maintenance money. The gaoler should not receive any debtor without a deposit at the same time of at leaßt two weeks' maintenance money, and in default of subsequent payments should, within twelve hours, upon affidavit before the nearest Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, have power to discharge the debtor, without further ceremony. With reference to the construction of gaol buildings in the colony, much might be said, but I will now only refer to one very important requirement, that is the necessity for adding to gaols situate at a distance from a luuatio asylum one large and lofty room for the temporary safe keeping of lunatics. Many cases of dementia arise from intemperance ; or on the goldfiolds. through underground workings iv foul air, with bad living and bad water, which, causing indigestion, very commonly result in temporary, and, if not at an early period properly treated, in permanent insanity, involving upon the country a permanent ex« penae, that a single cure would much more than pay for the required accommodation. This cell should be finished to the satisfaction of the gaoler, or inspector of prisons, and medical officer.

Ono more observation, and I have done. Should delay be made in the construction of a penal prison, it might be well to invite by notice in the Government iQ-azette reports on the subjeot from heads wj£fipart« menta, whose views are not now beflfT the commission. This could do no harm, but might be of great good. Too muoh care and deliberation cannot be devoted to the ohoioe of a Bite for so important and coßtly an undertaking. The importance of this subject is, I hope, sufficient apology for the space it occupies in your valuable and already orowded columns. — lam,&e, Cokwist.