PRISONS BOARD DEFENDED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1542, 11 September 1912, Page 10

PRISONS BOARD DEFENDED.

lEy TeleEraph.—Special CorrissonSenl.V Auckland, September 10. A "Star" representative looked up Mr. F. G. Ewington, the Auckland member of the Prisons Board, in connection with remarks Toportcd to have been made by Mr. Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate, of Christchurch, concerning the Prisons Board. Mr. Ewington said that he thought that the l>est refutation of any attempts to belittle the board in public estimation were solid facts which could not be gainsaid. The Minister in charge of the Justice Department in Parliament had commended the Prisons Board for the good work which it had done, and the hoard's report to Parliament (signed bv Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice) showed that, of the number of prisoners released on probation and otherwise on tho board's recommendation, tho results were very satisfactory. "Sir Robert Stout's legal knowledge and common sense arc by no means second to Mr. Bishop's," said Mr. Ewihsiton, "and the personnel of the Prisons Board, which was generally commended by the whole press of the Dominion, is the warrant and guarantee for the. due exercise of common sense. They are - all men who know 'what's o'clock,' and want fair play. Mr. Bishop makes a great mistake'if he thinks that the Prisons Board is comprised of 'old fossils.' They are men of great worldly experience, and a good knowledge of human nature, and sonio of them have had for over thirty years special knowledge of reformatory treatment of prisoners." Mr. Ewington thought that perhaps a turn had been given to some expression of Mr. Bishop's, which his actual remarks may not have warranted, and he may not have intended; but expressions in the press, such as those alluded to, might possibly mar the influence of the Prisons Board, and prevent employers giving discharged prisoners work oh its recom- . . .' i