GOVERNMENT REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 279, 18 September 1918, Page 4

GOVERNMENT REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN.

ADDiNT.TON, CHKISTCHL RCH. Having obtained a gracious and cordial pcrmision to visit this Institution from the new Minister of Justice (The lion. T. Wilford) through Mr Matthews, Inspector of Prisons, 1 gladly availed tnys'df of the op|M)rtunity when pasing through Christchurch, on my way to settle on the West Coast. I made a special apjrointment by telephone with the lady superintendent, and on entering the precincts I was gratified to see various improvements since the last time I was there. The old unsightly building at the entrance has been pulled down, and from the debris has been thrown up in picturesque fashion, various rockery arangements which had been planted with flowers. On going further I noted that the garden and grounds generaPv, indicated that the women prisoners tor shall we say “patients,” to use the term of the lady superintendent) had not only been industrious in carrying out directions, but had put their hearts into their work. The flower-beds had yielded a good supply, and the vegetable garden too, had been remunerative, which couid be made more so with larger space. After inspecting the kitchen and laundry, where women were busily employed, I visited the sewing rooms in which much useful and valuable work is turned out for the Red Cross and patriotic efforts. I saw, also, the hospital ward, tin* surgical theatre, and the Institution Chapel, which had been furnished and decorated by the late Mrs Cunnington, whose long-continu-ed and effective services in th«‘ welfare of the prisoners of New Zealand are well-known and appreciated. Services arc held in this Chapel by the Anglican Church and the Salvation Army, each Sunday. The Roman Catholic Church being represented by members of St. Paul de Vincent. The “first offenders" were occupied in making up shirts for the men prisoners of other gaols. They did this, together with Red Cross work, in a separate sewing room. I was glad to hear that there is a system in vogu° whereby “habitual criminals,” on indeterminate sentences, if well behaved, are able to earn fid or 9d per diem so that they are enabled to purchase little extra indulgences/, sue h as chees. 1 , cocoa, butter or sugar from time to time. Those on

“reformative detention’’ c an also earn, and ar* paid their wages at termination of sentence, as well as being able to provide new clothing wherewith to begin afresh on re-entering the world. Rut as it was pointed out, tile present method of giving short sentences only for inebriates, gives little chance of a radical c ure it is constantly the case that the women return over and over again —some of them having from 20 to over 100 convictions against their record in the official books! This makes the* magisterial convictions f:*t a month three months or a yearso discouraging to any reformatory officers who wish the true welfare of the patients. Naturally, I enquired what new reform was specially desirable in the interests of the'se cases, ar.d was answered most emphatically, “Prohibition’’ —“Prohibtion.” For at least c>o per cent, of these prisoners find their way to the Reformatory in the first place, and constantly return, through indulgence in alcoholic liquors. If drink were done away, the result later tin would be —“No cases and an empty prison.” I was glad to a-'suie the lady superintendent that our W.C.T.T. always stood for National Prohibition, consistently and constantly working for its being secured. I was told that we should urge for longer sentences with a hope of remedial results, while the women could secure by good conduct those privileges given to “indeterminate sent°nce" cases. (There arc' now 57 inmates, including all grades, 1101 only old women, but younger; though as is well known young girls are committed to the Te Oranga Reformatory School, Christchurch. An “Inebriate Department’’ is much needed, whereby a “farm colony” could be started in the country with sufficient area for keeping cows (with a dairy), fowls, pigs, etc., and where fruit and vegetables could be grown, not only for prison requirements there and elsewhere, hut in exchange* for other commodities. The serious warconditions at present, seem to preclude this purpose being carried out, though it appears to my own judgment that the existing premises a.e not v°ry suitable, abutting on a main thoroughfare in a i>opulous district, Addington. These valuable premises, I should think, could he sold to great advantage, or an exchange made, for a larger property some miles from any town. All the necessary labour for carrying it on would be free labour, and the

produce could be obtaineo without much cost accordingly. It is gratifying to know that the open air work is not only beneficial to the health and c haracter of the women, hut that it is thoroughly congenial to them and helpful in uplifting them morally, as always strongly advocated by Lady Henry Somerset. Tin longer sentences by retaining the patients for an adequate period would be more remedial, giving a better chance for a real cure, and would also save the* pockets of the ratepayers, inasmuch as the’ upkeep of the police and prisons with all the machinery of the law courts, is a costly business, and the short sentences frequently mean constant recurring convictions of these poor women. There is another point- for the protection of society generally, and the welfare of the young people (of both sexes) particularly, it is most important that these “hardened c ffenders” or weak-willed “patients,” as others would say, should lie kept safely away under reformative care. To send them loose again into ordinary life is to harass the public and contaminate the younger citizens. Surely when 20 or more convictions are recorded, such a person should be under continued control in country surroundings for 3 to 5 years, or even longer in such cases! As the W.C.T.T. is such a strong body, wc should he represented officially and an appointed official visitor should be chosen who is practical, kindly and judicious. She could then be furnished with tiie name, age and date of any woman’s leaving the Reformatory at the exp’ration of sentence —meet her, convey her to a respectable lodging if necessary, or to a suitable place* of employment, see that any necessary c lothes were ready, and continue an occasional general supervision. A few other ladie, could form a small sub-committee to assist the official visitor as needed. Books and magazines are issued freely, and such would he welcomed, as there is much spare time spent alone in the cells after the day’s work is over. As to diet- plain, nourishing food is given, but personally 1 feel that a liberal supply of fruit (which outsiders could send) would lessen the drink craving. At British and jAmelrican Inebriate Institutions, apples are largely distributed w ith this special object. As women workers, our W.C.T.U. ought to make an effort in the lines

indicated for all women prisoners, especially as the latest reformative methods are not as far developed at present for them as in the case of men prisoners (as in the Invercargill Reformatory for young men, for instance). If the W.C.T.U. representative visitor were officially recognised by the Justice Department, helpful le< - lures could be arranged from time to time i,i conjunction with ihe lady superintendent, and it seems to me very desirable that more homely talks should be given on the evils of drink, evil companionship, and other sources of temptation outside, by suitable women speakers—in fact, anything devised whereby there may be given an impulse to a stronger, better life. SISTER MOODY HELL. Runanga, Greymouth.