WAIKERIA FARM.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1921, Page 4

WAIKERIA FARM.

SUPIvi \ JNT K NI)KNT A PPOI.N 1 TK1) lIOI'SK KTION'CLY CRITICAL. WKLLINCTON, Oct. 28.

Tlio nppuiiitmeiit of Dr Cribben ns su]K. j rinU»iuleiit of the \\ aikeria Prison Parm was strongly criticised in the House of Representatives yesterday altertioon by the i lon. J. A. Ilanau (Inveivarjiill) on the occasion oi the presentation of the Prisons Report by the Hon F. P. Lee (Minister for Justice). Mr ilanan contended tlml the appointment of a medical man to the post, at a salary of some £110(5 a year, was (juite un necessary and indefensible. The work could easily lie done ly any farm prison manager. Mr R. McCalliini (Wnirath: Is the 'appointment under the Public Service Commissioner ? Mr Manaii: Yes. Mr McCallum: Then we can do noth-

ing. Mr F. I!. IloeUly iKotorua) said that |)r (.'ribbon was superintendent not only of the '.Viikeria Prison Farm, but also of Ih* Tukunui Mental Hospital. The grounds of those two institutions totalled some OIMK) acres in all, and should Ik* under the management of ■me person. lie assured the lion, member for Invercargill that th * appointment of Dr (cribben was a very excellent one. Mr Hamm: Yon give in * an impiiry and T will undertake t(r prove that it is entirely unwarranted. Mr 11 nek ly: My land adjoins the land in question. and f can assure the lion, member that the work done hy Dr Drill hin in breaking in the land is very eo (l indeed. Mr Hanna: Any gaoler eo:.!d do the same. Mi- Hackly: He eould not: It requires a man wbo thoroughly 'understands. as Dr Cribben does, the break-ing-in of land. The lion IT P. > -e -taied that, ... far as his information went. good work was being carried out at Waikeria. Mr Ilanan: Any farm manager ion Id carry that out. What is Dr Cribben there for? Mr Leo: You must have a competent man (here and for the* mental hospital as well. Mr Hannn: lie is getting L‘HO() a year from tlu* Prisons Department.

Mr Leo; The salary is lived by the Public Service Commissioner. 1 have nothing to do with that. The Tokonui institution is a half-way house for those "ho come between the mental defectives and the criminally insane.

Mr Italian: lint you have a. deputy manager at both place*. Will you let us have an impiiry? the Speaker: Order, order! The lion member must restrain himself. Hemps! not interrupt sy frequently. Dr Thu'-ker (('liristclmreh Fast) remarked that Dr (Jrihhen was n pplctidid mental expert, the leading man in tin* Dominion. The Minister stated that he would have the matter looked into, and lot Mr Hamm know the result of the inquiry.