PENAL REFORM URGED

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22204, 25 November 1943, Page 2

PENAL REFORM URGED

STATEMENT BY HOWARD LEAGUE (Bv Telegraph—Pre=s Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday The Dominion executive or the New Zealand Howard League Tor Penal ReTorin todav issued the following statement:— “The recent controversy betwen Dr. D. G. McMillan and Hr Hubert ostler on New Zealand prisons has added to the public disquiet concerning the Dominion's penal system. The Howard League wishes to place before the public the results of its observation and consideration or available evidence: “(1) The league is convinced that Dr. McMillan, as Minister in Charge of Prisons, made a genuine attempt to improve matters and the league regrets the shortness of his term or office. “ <-j i sir Hubert Ostler gives as his qualifications to comment on penal matters that he served Tor 18 years as judge and the last Tour years as chairman of the Prisons Board. His judgeship entitles him to be heard with respect on matters or law but his chairmanship or the Prisons Board In itself is no guarantee he possesses understanding either of modern reformative methods or of the lire or a prison Inmate. Moreover. • the Prisons Board, which is a sentence-reviewing body, is guided in its decisions mainly by ollleial reports from the Controller-General j of prisons and his subordinates. Plainly j the only tribunal reasonably competent to say whether character has degenerated or regenerated during the period or imprison- I Went is a psychiatric clinic or similarly constituted body. “(3> Sir Hubert knows perfectly well that protection or the public is the avowed objert or every intelligent penologist. “(4> The whole evidence today supports reformative rather that punitive treatment as the scientific method or handling anti-social cases. “(5) The basis or reformation Is a proper diagnosis, and right treatment or the causes or maladjustment leading to the crime demands carerul study or the Individual. The Howard League regards the provision or proper psychiatric facilities and the appointment or a sclentificallv trained staff with a treatment and not a punishment point or view as the key to an Improved penal system. “(6) The league believes that our system Is still essentially punitive and says there Is no Justification Tor Sir Hubert’s optimism about It. Optimism can be Justified only by scientific diagnosis and machinery Tor Individual treatment. “7 ) The league declares that the whole question or penal reform in New Zealand should be referred to a commission or inquiry as recommended to the Government by the House or Representatives In 1939.”