THE PRISONER'S LOT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 9

THE PRISONER'S LOT

WHEN .RELEASED FROM GAOL. An interesting dissertation on tho treatment of prisonors is contained in the annual report of the Prisons Board presented to Parliament yesterday. "If we are to look for improvement in tho conduct of those who come out of prison," says the chairman of the board, Sir Kobert Stout, "something moro must- be dono by society for the released prisoner than has yet been done. Tile burden that he carries has to be remerflbercd. lie has a dishonoured name. Even his own relatives have often lost conlidenco in him, and he is generally without character or credit. lie looks for work and sometimes iinds it, hikl the kindness of his employer often helps him in his struggle to live well. , All employers are not always considerate. Ho sometimes gets out of work and loses heart. To whom can ho turn for "assistance? There are prisoners' aid societies in larger towns who help those just released from gaol, and considering the small funds they have to expend in assistance they often do good work; but it is hardly -their function to keep in toneli with men or women who havo been for some time free. Other- associations connected with somo of tho religious organisations help, but . the released prisoner wants some additional help. His fall, when lie again falls, arises often from two causes—first, want of suitable employment; second, indulgence in alcohol. Could society through its organism, the Government, help? Wu venture to suggest that there should bo soma' Government farms—pastoral, agricultural, horticultural, or fruitgrowing—to which every prisoner would know that when he was out of work ha could go and get lodging, food, etc., on his giving a satisfactory return in work.. Ho would also be entitled to some wages, but as the institution would not be a place for any but casual work ho would have to be content with less reward than is obtained where work is of a permanent character. . If such an institution wero founded it would be self-supporting, and it would give no oxclise for a man relapsing into crime through lack of the means of subsistence or lack of work. Care would havo to be taken that the manage'r of such an institution would be possessed of strong common sense, coupled with kindness of heart and. demeanour. There are institutions in other countries akin to what we suggest, and they have been successful in helping many who required assistance."