PRISON GOVERNORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

PRISON GOVERNORS.

Slowly, but none the less steadily, women in different parts of the world are taking their places in equal situations with men. .Recently it was mentioned in these columns that a woman had been appointed as governor of a German gaol. She is not the first woman to iill such a position, for as long ago as 191G Dr. Selina Fox was appointed governor of Aylesbury prison for women. This- is the .only long-sentence prison for women in England. She also had to govern the Borstal for girls, which was a separate.department 'in Aylesbury. Dr. Mildred Staley, of Auckland, was ■deputy-governor of the same prison at that time, and there is.still a woman governing there. In .other countries there are also women governors. One of these is Sherborn prison, of Boston, U.S.A., where the,governor is, a Mrs. Hodder. She has installed modern methods, in social committees of prisoners and self-governing groups. Arts and industries are taught, arid dramatic and 1 other forms-of;amusement of an uplifting sort are allowed. At the great Federal prison of Alderson, near Washingtonj 8.C., there is a woman governor, Dr. Taylor, and she has installed thecotI tage system, with excellent classification and methods. In the West of America many prisons have women as their governors, and have had them for years. . These women governors .have adopted . modern ■ penal reform methods ;\yith great success. At Sleighton Farms, a .place of .detention for young women ans girls, the governor, Miss Emily Morroson, has the system of "student government" throughout the 300 ihmates,_all classified in several separate houses,, arid for others living on the farm. She has the help of fine assistants, many of them university graduates. A monthly magazine, debates, nature study classes, arts and crafts work, employ every waking moment after the trade and other, regulation tasks of the day are. completed satisfactorily. There is no slacking allowed under these women governors, who believe that habits of industry, social helpfulness and unselfish service lay the best foundation for future good citizenship. ' ' ■ ■: '