PRISONS BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1921, Page 1

PRISONS BOARD

APPRECIATION OF SIR ROBERT STOUT. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 17. The Prisons Board met at Addington and Paparua yesterday, the members present being the Hon. Sir Rolsert Stout (president), Dr. Frank Hay, Mr C. U. Matthews (Controller-General of Prisons), Sir George Fenwick, Mr W. Reece, and Mr Edwin Hall. After dealing with the formal business of the sittings reference was made by members of the Board to the approaching departure of the president on leave of absence from bis duties as Chief Justice, and the following motion was passed and recorded on the minutes:-

“On the eve of the departure of the Hon. Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, on leave of absence for twelve months, the members of the Prisons Board of the Dominion, of which he has been president since its inception ten years ago, take the opportunity of expressing their very warm appreciation of the great service lie has rendered the Dominion in the position referred to. The duties of the Board require the exercise of much ca-re and discrimination, and in dealing with the unfortunate section of the people whose liberty is to a large extent under their control, th e members of the Board are indebted to their president for the wisdom,.sympathy, and scrupulous fairness which have invariably characterised his guidance in their consideration of the many difficult cases They .trust that their distinguished coi league will return to New Zealand at the close of his leave of absence much benefited in health and that the3 T will have the pleasure.of a further lengthy term *of association with him in the important work in which they are engaged.”