THE HOWARD LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1930, Page 13

THE HOWARD LEAGUE

AM UAL CONFERENCE

PRISON POPULATION

The third annual conference of the Howard League of New Zealand for Penal Bofqrm was opened this morning at. the Dominion Fanners' Institute by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey, ■ M.L.C., whose address is reported in another column. He was, he stated, very pleased to accept their invitation lo open the conference and to welcome tho delegates on behalf of tho Government. (Applause.) - On the motion of Mr. E. M. Laiug, Christchurch, a hearty- vote of thanks was accorded , Sir Thomas Sidcy for attending and- opening the conference, and for his ■sympathetic and understanding speech. Sir Thomas thanked the delegates for their own reception, and his old schoolmate, Mr. Laing, for his kindly words. They had known one another for many, many years, he remarked. . Mr. Laing. "Twenty." (Laughter.) Sir Thomas Sidey: "For a good deal more than twenty." (Laughter.) He extended'an invitation to tho delegates to visit the prison farm at',Trentham; and it was arranged to do so on Friday morning next. / The.conference was attended by delegates from all, parts of the Dominion, among those present,'in addition to Mr. B. M. Laing, being Dr. Mildred Staley, of Auckland, anil Mr. 11. G. E. Mason, M.P. for Auckland Suburbs. Mr. Justice Stringer, who was unable to be present, was unanimously and by acclamation elected president of' the league for the ensuing year.N' • The annual report of the executive stated: "The London 'Howard Journal' for September, 1929, commenting on our lp2S remits, abserved, 'It will be seen that the New Zealand Govern-. , incut is content with a regime which cannot bo regarded as enlightened by those aware of developments in Europe,' a criticism'of whose justice we are sadly, well aware, though it should but redouble our own efforts on behalf of our country. "It has been a decided encouragement," added the"'report, "to find our pleas, first for the' extension of probation, and secondly for organised after-care,, given official endorsement; but it is clear that we must continue at all costs our efforts to free New Zealand'from deserving tho accurate criticism referred to above, and also from bearing the burden of a. daily quota of prisoners which, in proportion to the general population', is actually some four, times that of the Motherland— although in this, country there is very' little serious.crime. '■ 'For so miserablo a state of things,'two. causes at least kvc clear.. First, New Zealand still lacks adequate scientific help in dealing with delinquents; second, she lacks also suitable institutions for the care of those who-offend-.because they cannot help it —sneh. as the. adult feeble-minded, the psv.'.hopathie, and. the chronic inebriate. Hence, her. present penal system fails at once to 'do .-justice to all manner of men,' and. also'to protect the law-abiding community from, considerable loss, futile expense, and harm." Tho report was adopted. WOMEN POLICE WANTED. I With the addition, "We also urge tho establishment of suitable institutions for offenders, thus found to bo feeble-minded, or -psychopathic, or inebriate (alcoholised?), with a view to. giving such medical treatment or training as is possible,", the. annual conference of the Howard league of New Zealand for Penal Bel'orm' endorsed yesterday tho following remit adopted by'the 1929 conference: "We recognise with satisfaction.that your Department, in seized with the necessity of a greater measure of classification. We appreciate also the provisions • for classification recently made in certain prisons. As modern criminology, however, is concerned with the scientific study by experts, and the individual ''treatment,, of offenders, we consider that every prisoner should undergo ~ a scientific, physical, mental, and social examination, and that the classification outlined in the. late Minister's- letter should be amended to conform with modern scienific knowledge.'. 3 It was also resolved that a persistent effort be made to give effect to remit 3 of the 1928 conference —"We urge that some provision of the law be made which, on the compaliut of a parent, guardian, police, or probation officer, will enable Magistrates to bring under propei" care.and supervision young persons, over 17 aiid not over 21 years of age, without recording a conviction against them for any offence." It was decided that the appointment of women police be again urged upon the Minister of Justice. ' :