PRISON CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3163, 15 August 1917, Page 5

PRISON CONTROL

'A STATEMENT. OP MB. P. C. WEBB. Ono of the Teported statements of Mr. P. C. Webb regarding happenings in Lyttelton Gaol was the subject of a question in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. 1 Mr. L. M-Isitt asked the Minister of Justice whether ho had noticed tho statement made by a member of the House that-one of the old inmates of Lyttelton Gaol was sentenced to three months' solitary confinement for, giving his crumbs to tho sparrows. Ho asked whether the Minister would cause inquiries to be made as to the truth or falsity of this statement. ■ \.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan said that charges against prison management ought to ho mado in tlio Houbo if they wore to ho made at all. If lie were to notice nil criticism made' against the Prisons Department his Inhours in this respect would he endless. Mr. Isitt: It was made by a member of this House! . Mr. T. W. Rhodes: It was not made here. Mr. Hanan said that if a definite charge, was mads in the House, or submitted to him in writing, ho would act, hut until this was done he did not feel called upon to act. Mr. Isitt: The statement derogntoiy to the prison control was made on the public olatfnrm. ' . Mr. Hanan said that ho would wnit until the honourable' gentleman made his criticisms in the House, and then, so far as he tould, he wouldreply to them.