The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25. "THE ROUND TABLE."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 October 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25. "THE ROUND TABLE."

Oxk of the must interesting of modern journals, and one of the also,, is "The Pound Tablu." The latest issue of it now lies on the magazine table of Levin Public Library. "The Pound Table" is a quarterly review of the politics of the British Empire, and the leading' authorities in the various States, Dominions and Dependencies are amongst the contributors of articles. Pride of place in the latest issue is given to "Downing Street," that place of public interest to all dwellers abroad from Great Britain. The article gives interesting details of the career of George Downing, quoting Pepy's wellknown pen-picture of the self-

serving politician who made a Fortune for himself and gave the nation a house. To the scarcelyless flattering picture drawn of him by Pepy's contemporary diarist Evelyn the Round Table's article makes no reference, but it quotes other authorities which serve to show Downing as a false man. The man, however, is by the way: the article's chief merit is in its description of the Home Office, its acts and disabilities. For instance of the last aspect, it is recorded that Godley, the first Superintendent of Canterbury Province, wrote that he "would rather be governed by Xero on the spot-than by a committee of archangels in Downing street." Various other articles are in the Roun'd Table, and they cover the 1 nited Kingdom, Canada. Australia. South Africa, New Zealand. -The Immigrants "Regulation Law and the "Hand Strike are amongst the South African topics that are touched upon, while in respect of Xew Zealand there are comments concerning "The Visit of 11.M.5. Xew Zealand," "Xaval Policy," "The Citizen Army, and "Labour and the Municipal Elections.'" IXDETEP MINATff SEX- . TENCES. Tin; deterrent effects Jn respect of crime exerted by the "Kathleen Mavourneen" sentence are becoming (dearer and clearer in their effect as year follows year. To date there have been some three years of operation for the Crimes Amendment Act, and already there has been a marked "jnoving on'' of the worst: amongst Xew Zealand's criminal classes. Importing upon the operations of the Act, the Inspector of Prisons remarks, in his latest pronouncement on the subject, that the sentence under this Act is an approach to the indeterminate, the moral force of which is undeniable. Many prisoners serving ordinary sentences, knowing the remission that can be obtained by lnarks, with the date of discharge in front of th'em, tend to settle into a negative state, in which I hey keep from actually offending and labour just'sufficiently to gain the allotted marks with a minimum of mental and physical exertion. (it may be stated, parenthetically, that, recognising this, where the condition of the prison and prisoner have made it possible, we have held out the hope of recommendation for special remission for the profitable employment by prisoners for time outside the ordinary working hours, a reward to be obtained only when the conduct and ordinary industry have also been good). In the absence of an absolutely indeterminate sentence, the Act effects a good working compromise by placing the maximum period at ten tyears. The average reformative sentence imposed was about three years. One can- only speculate in any particular case, but, speaking generally, we may safely assert that this average, especially if the original sentence be included, makes a higher average than would have been the case under ordinary sentences. It is a fact already noticed that, those detained under this fo'rm of sentence realise that the period of their incarceration depends upon their conduct and industry, and the efforts that the majority are evidently making to gain their release upon probation justifies the hopes expressed when the Act was passed.