The Dominion. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1912. PRISON REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1465, 13 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1912. PRISON REFORM.

_ -4 ' Most people will sympathise with the objects of the Prisoners' Aicl Society as disclosed at the annual meeting of the society on Monday evening last. When a man has paid the penalty prescribed by the law for his offence against society, it is better, oven on the lowest and most selfish grounds, that tie should be assisted to become a useful member of society, rather than a parasite living on his fellows so long as he is able to escape the meshes of the law, and kept at the expense of his fellows after he fails to elude detection. A Prisoners' Aid Society conducted on common-sense lines can serve a valuable public purpose in assisting those who have made a slip and fallen into 'crime to begin afresh a life of useful citizenship; and even the offender who has fallen more than once may be cncouraged to strive to break away from the associations which may have influenced him and facilitated his previous lapses. It is pleasing, therefore, to note that his Excellency the Governor, ttie Chief Justice, and others likely to influence public opinion made a point of attending the annual meeting of the local society, and had something to say by way of encouragement and support. But while the Prisoners' Aid Society may be doing good work in various parts of the country, 'much uneasiness prevails amongst those who have given any thought to the question as to the general effects of our prison system, and more especially tne effect of the introduction in recent years of what have been styled prison reforms. AVe, ourselves, have at different times received complaints from those in a position to form opinions as to the new methods introduced; but we must confess that it is difficult on the information available to form any definite judgment as to the actual weaknesses which exist. The. general impression left, however, is that matters are in a very unsatisfactory state, and call for immediate attention. The Crimes Amendment Act of 1910, for instance, which has i been in force something like two | years, and under which prisoners have been sentenced to "reformative detention," seems to have been administered in a very loose fashion indeed. Apparently "reformative detention" may mean anything a gaoler may choose to decide, and different gaolers may have very different, and m some cases perhaps, finite mistaken, ideas on the question. There is power under the Act to make regulations for the guidance of gaolers, but it would seem that no one has thought it worth while to attend to the matter. The procedure of the Prisons Board is another question upon which strong oornment has been passed by correspondents, and it would be interesting in some cases to learn the reasons which have prompted the Board to order the release of prisoners, and the evidence on which they have based their decisions. Mii. H.inan, the new Minister for Justice, shortly after his accession to the oHicn, gave, expression to a quite commendable desire to improve the country's prison system. It is true that, following the example of his predecessor in.oflicc, and some other well-meaning people, lie unburdened himself of some rather sloppy scntimentalism on the subject of prison reform, but he at lenst deserves credit for taking a practical stop in order 1.0 secure definite evidence as to the conditions existing at the pre-

— sent time. The step he then took in calling the various gaolers together in conference and securing from theni not only a report on the system, but also recommendations for its improvement, should prove a valuable guide in assisting to place matters on a better footing. If what we now : hear is correct, the necessity for a change in tho administration of the Prisons Department is very urgently called for, and the Minister must know this. The gaol officials were invited to speak their minds freely,.' and if, as seems to be tho case, they have done so, ifc is desirable that their views should be made know.ii. If the Minister really wishes to do the right thing in the matter of prison reform, and docs not merely want, to appear as an empty talker, tfcfe-1 ling the cars of tho unthinking with] pleasant sounding o'f j good intentions, lie will as a first, stop, j make public the report of this conferenco. It should materially strengthen _ his hands to be able to ! show that in any course he may d'e-.i cide to pursue ho is supported bv the j recommendations of these experiencficl; gaol officials. He can rely on this that lie will not strengthen his position or that of his party by secjuiig: up anything that may. Ik; amiss in our prison system; and if the gaolers' report docs not show . anything wrong, then all the. more . reason for publishing it, and letting tho public know that in the opinion of these experts all is well.