ASSAULT ON WARDERS

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 10

ASSAULT ON WARDERS

PERTINENT QUESTIONS IN HOUSE *■ THE CAT " FOR REPRIEVED MURDERERS ? (From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.} WELLINGTON, Oetober 3. Question time in the House of Representatives became lively when two Opposition members raised points relating to prisons administration and criticised the reply of Dr M’Millan, Minister in Charge of Prisons, who, in turn, was called to order by Mr Speaker for including in his answer matters of controversy. “ What steps does the Minister propose to take to prevent a recurrence of the dastardly assault on warders in Auckland Gaol recently?” asked Mr Broadfoot, who also wished to know if prisoners are in future to be allowed to wear civilian clothes in working hours, thus intensifying tho difficulty of tho police in recapturing escaped prisoners. Dr M'Millan replied that the recent prison break from Mount Eden was being investigated by tho authorities, and if it was revealed that there had been any relaxation of the customary vigilance, tho necessary remedial steps would be taken. The routine prescribed over tho past decade had been observed at Mount Eden. When the Minister touched on. the reference to prisoners being permitted to wear civilian clothes, he remarked : “It is to be regretted that the hon, gentleman did not state his facts accurately, an omission which will occasion no surprise to members.” Mr Speaker: Order. Expressions of opinion of that sort are really not in place in a Ministerial statement. Mr Holland: Provide them with a motor car as well and they won’t want to steal one. The Minister pointed out that the escaped prisoners wore prison clothes, but that rather increased the danger to lives and property, as an escaped prisoner of ’ bad character would desperately need private clothes and would commit burglary with violence to get them. Finally Dr M'Millan criticised newspaper editors for their comment on the incident, declaring that it was interesting to observe the irresponsible way in which editors, witli the utmost abandon, were apportioning the blame, making the most dogmatic statements in regard to the regrettable occurrence. Mr Broadfoot raised a point of order. His question, he said, was to ascertain if it is a fact that prisoners in future were to be allowed to wear private clothes. Mr Speaker: The Minister has replied. Mr Broadfoot: His usual dirty reply. The Prime Minister: Perhaps he is not satisfied with the length of the Minister’s reply. Mr Broadfoot: lam not satisfied with your Minister. He gave notice to ask the Minister of Prisons for a return showing, the length of the term served by persons convicted of murder and sentenced to death when the sentence has been commuted by the Executive Council to life imprisonment, presumably for mitigating circumstances. “ If sentence of death is to be commuted in every case of persons convicted of murder,” concluded Mr Broadfoot, “ will the Minister consider the application of the cat-of-nine-tails as a deterrent?” Mr Speaker commented that the member in asking for a return should not add notes.