The Globe. FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 657, 28 July 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1876.

Notwithstanding all that has been said on the question, there is, we fear, some danger after all, of the erection of a Central Prison not being proceeded with. A discussion on .the subject took place in the House on Wednesday evening, and from the tone of many of the speeches, it is evident that a great public disgrace is likely to be indefinitely perpetuated. As our readers are aware, the Government, after careful consideration, bgi fixed on Tarauaki as the most suitable site for such a building. The Royal Commission which, reported in 1868, suggested several places, from which to choose, Taranaki, the Chatham?, the Auckland Islands, Quail Island, Resolution Island, Stewart’s Island, &c, being mentioned. The Hon C. C. Bowen explained the reasons which bad induced the Government to fix finally on Taranaki; the abundance of employment for the convicts on the breakwater, the cheapness of food, and the excellent climate. To our mind Mr Bowen had all the best of the argument. Apart from the urgent necessity for the work being proceeded with at once, no reason which should have the slightest weight with an unprejudiced mind was adduced, against the. selection made by the Government. They amounted simply to this ; Why should Taranaki have the benefit of the labour of 200 or 300 convicts, at the expense of the rest of the colony ? Ministers could not have selected that place unless for some selfish reason, and that was to secure the votes of the members for Taranaki. Mr Rees urged this view of the question very strongly. He maintained that the expenditure, consequent on the erection of such an establishment, was to be lavished on Taranaki, in order to purchase the support of the members from that district. That gentleman apparently

thinks, judging We suppose from his Own inclinations, that the good of the dolony has no share in influencing the conduct of Ministers. Other members, while giving the Government credit for a sincere desire to remedy a great evil, could not bring themselves to look at the question from a colonial point of view. They grudged Taranaki the expenditure which such an establishment entailed. On the castingvote of the Speaker the further discussion of the matter was postponed till Friday week. We sincerely hope that the session will not be allowed to pass without something definite being done. The erection of a central prison somewhere in the colony cannot longer be delayed. Nothing could be worse than the present state of affairs. The existing prisons are totally inadequate to permit of a proper system of classification and separation. When the Royal Commissioners reported in 1868, the state of matters then was alarming enough, and since then they have not improved. The Minister of Justice stated, in his place in the House, that owing to the impossibility of those in charge classifying prisoners, the young and the short-sentenced were being contaminated, and our gaols might uow almost be termed breeding places for criminals. Mr Bowen no doubt spoke advisedly, in making use of the language which he did. Since he has accepted the position he now occupies he has given a great amount of care and consideration to the state of our prisons. We may therefore regard his statement as in no way overcoloured. We hope, therefore, that during the present session the House will be able to spare a few hours from party warfare to devote to a great social question like this; and let us have a central prison, if not at Taranaki, then at some other place which shall suit the views of the majority.