BAUME’S RELEASE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 45, 17 November 1926, Page 12

BAUME’S RELEASE

PRISON DISCIPLINE AGAIN “HEALING THE FRACTURES” Prison discipline was again referred to yesterday by the Rev. Howard Elliott in the course of a reply to the last statement issued by the Minister of Justice (Hon. F. J. Rolleston) iu connection with the much discussed Baume release case. Mr. Elliott is Still hopeful that a full inquiry will be granted. “It is difficult to understand,” said Mr. Elliott “the determination -of the Minister of Justice to proceed with the Magisterial inquiry, and incur the expense necessary thereto i U view of the fact that I have definitely stated that I will not appear to tender evidence or to prove au* charge before such an inquiry. *iiie mere fact that the Minister has intimated that the question of privilege will not be raised, or obstacles to the production of any facts or evidence relative to the' inquiry invoked, does not disentangle the objections already raised by myself to such a form of inquiry; but rather .he last Ministerial statement emphasises that the Ministerial promise has reference strictly to facts or evidence relative to the inquiry into alleged breaches of the gaol regulations, and, of course, does not touch the paramount objection to this particular form of inquiry, which is to be confined to the narrowest limits and avoids the great issues which are of public moment and importance. “Nevertheless, it is interesting, even at this stage, to know that certain improvements have been made in prison discipline, and that blue uniforms are now being worn by those entitled to wear them, and grey by those entitled to wear them, while some other effort more than a mere line drawn across the yard is being made to carry out the regulations as to the separation of the classes of prisoners. So that, perhaps, before the Magisterial inquiry takes place the fractures of the regulations will have all been mended and so completely healed as not to be discernible to the official eye. "Like the children of Israel who encompassed the walls of Jericho seven times before the walls fell flat, the Department of Justice beseiged by public opinion and my own request, will doubtless prevail on Cabinet in due time to grant that fuller inquiry which alone will satisfy the public of this Dominion.”