SIR ROBERT STOUT.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1921, Page 4

SIR ROBERT STOUT.

INSTRUCTIVE INTERVIEW. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. LONDON, August I. ' New Zealand’s C'liief Justice, Sit Robert Stout, former Prime Minister for New Zealand, lias •nitl many mtc"csting tilings since his arrival I rout tee Dominion, bit his r.marls made to ;; representative of the “British Australasian” are sure to be widely quoted, as the distinguished visitor gave us interesting information and made some interesting comparisons. Sir Robert Stout first revealed some interesting facts regarding prism life in New Zealand. There are in tie lbminion three farms- at Invercargill, at I’aparoa, and at Waikcria. Here the New Zealand convict may learn the error of his ways under the healthy discipline of hard-working, open-air 1 farm life, instead of having the ro- ! mains of his soul destroyed within Mime walls. The farms arc large, am. i even- kind of farming is practised. Another form of activity is tree-planting. ' ('amps arc formed in the district wlmrc ; the trees arc to be planted. A GOOD WORD FOR THE POLICE. ' Surprise was expressed that the planners did not all run away, as escape i under Mich an arrangement should be : easy. “Oil no.” said Sir Robert: when they are caught there is no more open Pi,.'” 11,. had great, and evidently not misplaced confidence in the N<" Zealand police. No fewer than 54. - , OUO.O'H) trees have been planted by these convict camps. There are sclinnlmastors. gymnasium, an I debating s icietios. and the convicts arc paid accordin'' to the work they do. The Prison Board Ins' remtirkiiMe

I ou'its and cau release on prubiitloll win so conduct it considers Ivs in- sited m;c!i treatment. wild her the sentence is indeterminate or |W a fixterm. Other well; <hnu' by convicts 'is niail-iiiaUiiiji ami hriduc-huihlillo. i With the money they earn milil Ihn"lies. Mich as jam am! tiihacru. may he lailiellt. WnliieM prisoners are dimmed in ~ai - deiiiim and domestic duties. Ihat such rtn|>ian nietlinds are ivnrkahle is proved my Sir Hebert Stout's state- ‘ moot that S>*> per i-ciit of eouviets. alien released, do not return to prison, and even of those aim receive indeterminate sentdiees only AO per eel. mne Kacii. Keoiuuiiieally the arraiioeniciit 1 i- also eond. for mole aorl; is doin' hv the prisoners than pays fur tlieii leap KDI'CATIOX. i Helerrine to his statement, made at the rnive.rsities' ('onurcss. that if (Peal Hril.iiil acre In speml the same annnint per head nil eduealion as N’ea Zealand, that lr would spend C!>d.ODtt.Ct'O a year. Sir li'ihert pointed out that this tv as nothin:.: to adult ar . spell I on alcohol per annum. \17... e Ifid.CIOO.OOO. And yet we heard complaints of lad; of money ! j Sir Hohert said that the conference of 1 'niversities of the Kninire had done ' a ereat dealt of cm id. [t hrouelit 1 nit'll from all parts lueether, and tdiroiioh (lie iiiterehanpo of their ideas and opinions had helped to unite the . Knipire. I SOMK COMPARISONS, j (Ymiparinc Rutland as it is nna and jas it was as lie rcinenihered it .iS j years arii. Sir I’ohert remarked tint j London was ever -o much cleaner. | (Yossino-saccpel's acre no louder ne- | eos.sary. The amenities of life aero

j milch greater. There was also less I drinking. At the Gresham dining 10(1111, near the .Mansion Iloii-e. where ! lie used to dine 58 years ago, he w s i the only one who did not take alcolm! j with his dinner. Now it was possible ! to enter a restaurant and sec n great ■ majority of non di inkers Ho remarked mi (lie wonderful management of London street tr.illic. and thought that there were IKI people to equal the English in general kindliness and give and take. Particularly did this refer to tlm Inis and taxi drivers, lie was surprised t" see so many English Indies I adopting the Maori women's hahit ol j smoking. j Winn praising the English morning I papers, incut inning particiilarly the ! "Times,” “Morning Post,’' and “Daily i Telegraph.” Sir Robert said that lie | did not consider the evening papers 'equal to those I ill hi i shed ill New Zi'ii- . land. The “Westminster Gazette” was | perhaps an exception. Asked if he j thought that too much space was dcj voted to sport, lie smiled, shrugged his i shoulders and said: “Well, there are I more elevating tilings.” lie noticed i that the stature of people here was ; smaller than that of New Zealanders. ; lie attributed this to the out-of-door life led in the Dominion.