FACILITIES ABUSED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 38, 10 April 1942, Page 5

FACILITIES ABUSED

MAORI PRISONER'S ACTION

DA IMAGE AT LOCAL G AOL

It is on record that the Whakatane gaol is one of the mosit modern in the Dominion. Facilities and equipment are planned upon the latest lines with a view to making the surroundings bright, clean and encouraging to those who may be detained there. The bulk of the prisoners however happen to be Maoris who step from ramshakle homes into quarters resembling those of an hotel. The result is abuse of the equipment and flagrant damage to utensils and furnishings. Such a state of affairs was repealed when two of the prisoners at present serving sentence Avere charged before the court last Wednesday with committing mischief by wilfully destroying one porcelain wash basin, the property of the Government. The accused were Gilbert Edwards and Ron Pakeha who were both recently committed. Sergeant Farrell stated that the eel Is were equipped with spring mattresses and afforded every comfort to the prisoners. They adjoined the bathroom and conveniences which were considered the last thing. Maoris were not given hard work and were well fed, yet they deliberately damaged their eating utensils, the gardening tools and the equipment. The two accuscd had been skylarking and had broken the hand basin which was valued at £5. It was high time something was done to prevent the walls from being scribbled on and the' appointments from being destroj'ed by unscrupulous and irresponsible priso-ncrs. The bench issued a stern warning to both men who- were convicted and ordered to pay the cost between them.