COMING DAYS FOR THE CRIMINAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1017, 5 January 1911, Page 4

COMING DAYS FOR THE CRIMINAL

STRENUOUS BENEFICENT. Between 5000 and 6000 persons find their-way into the New Zealand gaols each year, the average number in prison being about 900.

"If," said Dr. Findlay, in the course of an interview,' "tho new Act' is administered as I believe it will be by tile Magistrates and Judges, in the spirit of scientific criminology, there will-no doubt be on increase in the number in the gaols at the end of next year. The reason is that under tho new Act a magistrate may add three years. for reformative purposes to the determinate sentence, and a Judge of the Supreme Court may add ten,years. Thus it is highly probable that a large number of tho ('floating criminal population' will Ire committed with a view to reform, and will not, as at present, be discharged at the expiration of their sentence, to commit fresh offences, aiid,' after a short space of freedom, be committed to gaol again. To achieve good results,' however, the Act required time." Dr. Findlay said that he quite recognised that the question of expense cduld not be overlooked, but if it resulted in the ultimate reformation of thousands of people, it would surely more than justify such an outlay. It would be observed, however, that the work done at each of the tree-plant-ing stations (even when tested by the lowest possible sum paid for free labour, if carried out in that way) was. already sslf-supporting. He was hopeful that the products of the Tokanui Prison Farm would go a long way towards defraying the maintenance, management, and general cost of the farm.