PRISON METHODS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 29 April 1912, Page 5

PRISON METHODS.

* _ STATEMENT BY HON. J. A. HAXAX. Speaking of the conference of gaolers which Siit in Wellington last week at his request, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister for Justice, told a reporter that he luiil reason to bo very pleased that he had called the gaoler* together, for their deliberations hiul given him nn insight into conditions he might not have discovered otherwise. The outcome of the conference, he hoped, would be the introduction of certain reforms making for improvements in prison management and increased efficiency in the system. The conference had shown him that conditions now exist-' od which handicapped, to some extent, all efforts to givo practical effect to tho excellent scheme initiated bv his predecessor in office, Sir John Fimllay—ti scheme which embodied the most scientific, humane, and rational methods iif dealing with criminals. At present each, prison had all clnsses of prisoners (o deal witli. He was, in fact, informed that it was practically impossible, to carry out proper classification with the buildings and yards now available. The present staffs appeared insufficient to exercise proper supervision, and there was a lack nf suitable employment for the different classes of prisoners. The Inveicargill reformatory prison ought, for the present a( least, to be set npart. for the detention of first offenders, whether sentenced to hard labour or to reformative treatment. Regulations appeared necessary in order .to convey to tho gaolers instruction and advice as to the manner of carrying out. the particular kind of treatment needed to bring about the reformation desired. Complaints wore being made on the part of some prisoners sentenced to reformative treatment that they were dealt with in the same manner ns men sentenced to hard labour, and these would liave to be looked into. He thought it was necessary that the efficiency of the prison. l ) should be stiffened up, mid that proper provision should, hemade for the training of warders and those who would in future be the managers of reformative institutions. The discipline enforced must bo wholesome, and at the ?iime time not ovcrdiluted with "milk of Iwmon kindness." Prisoners required to be (rented, not in "rosewater" fashion, but intelligently, humanely, and wiMi a view t» Ibeir own reform, and to Uif> bc-ncftl, as far as possible, of the people wlio are now taxed to keep them in idleness.