NAPIER GAOL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 278, 20 August 1919, Page 8

NAPIER GAOL

CREATE INDIANATION. By Telegraph—Press Aisoolatlon. •■■■/ Napier, August 19. Tho Rev. J. K. Archer's statements rounding tie Napior gaol lmvo.caused indignation locally. Gaoler J. C. boan> lon,, in his official position, did not feel disposed >to say very much. However, lie wondered what definite allegations ; could bo made. At one time, about four '"or "five yerns ago, the gaol was some- ' What overcrowded, but that would not, -warrant such severe critioism. Mr. ''Aioher' was obaplain to the gaol be■'tween 1910 aad'l'JlS. Mr. Scanlon was : of the opinion that if Mr. Aiclier saw • Bucli shocking eights ho had neglected • his duty sadly in not making it public at the time. Mr. Scanlon would welcome the permission of the Department to throw the prison open for inspeotion by the Press and reputablo citizens. Mr. J. S. Large, who has been visiting justice for 80 years, characterises the statements as qui to erroneous. "I havo never seen anything like tho rubbish that felloff was talking." The Rev. J. Hobbs states: During the past three years I have been a privileged friend of prisoners,'seeing them frequently on Sundays' and week days, and having tho confidence of several both, during their imprisonment and after thel* discharge. No individual has ever spoken to me one word in disparagement of tho institution, of tho officers or of the treatment received, but moro than one has mentioned even with gratitude the manner in which punishment is administered ' with kind consideration,' and the evident desire on tho part of all that each ono should leave the prison a better man, but with no desire to return. ,Mr. A. L. Boattie, visiting justice to the gaol, Is highly indipia.nt, and wishes to most emphatically deny tho truth of tho statements. From notices posted in tho gaol prisoners all know they may speak to a visiting justice at any time, yet Mr. Berittio hardly over receives a oomplaint and certainly never a oowplaint of a seriono nature. Mr. Heuttio that, tho remarka of Mr. A roller suggest that he as viaifang junf.ico w ' not performing sii» duty, mhl naturally strongly resenta any wtch innuendo.

All OirPICIAX STATEMENT. By Telojraph—l'rcsa Aneoclfttlon, Christchurch, Aus:»hl. 1!)Jn regard to tho o)ii>.r//-"» ;igainst, the Napier prinon lriatlo by Arc, 11. D. -Martin at t'ho Council of Churches Inst night, tho following official information has boon received irotn Wellington: "Napior prison in only uswl 'or short-sen-tenceu prisoners, ilih{ the a.vor>'Ufo number there ifl 16 or 17. Tho building ib old but thoroughly satisfactory and sanitary. l't"is vi«itod by■ visiting justices and'.others, wyl thoro lias bean no singb complaint in any case. Tho. property hag boon sold to tho Napier Borough Council, ( which takes ■possession in April next."