BRITISH PRISONS’ REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1921, Page 1

BRITISH PRISONS’ REPORT

U'S'MtAIIAX INI: N-Z. CAPI F ASSOCIATION ! | ONIHI-N. November ... li,' ~ t ~l tie U'lM'U Coiiiinisstate:..: Tin'll. It* !»*" iu ' , a 1 7 ,i- 1 tla-I:li'y f sr.ae,' of |a> <• .a it .1 t.i, al ■ >U pPls'l!’. 'ltlrillg ."’argartly doe to l"' 'U' 1 Hone 1 lov< rn-,,,-s sav that a inn stamp of prisonlias come into existence. Men mid women, with lesoeetaliie ante.-edents, tabin" paa serious crime, owing to big money being no longer earned. Tl„’, economic readjustments Imv,. created discontent among the people, who steal to provide themselves with luxuries. which Hu y liiiva- grown accustomed to. Pilfering on the railways is not common. Though crimes have in creased dining the year, thciv have been only 13.!t1(> convictions, compared with 1811.50!) in 1903. Some ii u t lios-.i t it's Ir-lievc that the ■iinoinploynivant dole has prevented a great increase ill crime which might have been expected owing to distress due to unemployment.

UNI) EDI! CONDEMNED PRISONERS. I.ONDHN. Novetnher 5. Peferring to tlie Prisons Report. Hie Dean of St. Paul’s Loudon. Dean Inge lias publicly staled that a revolver and a cup of poison should h,' placed in tlie cell of every condemned criminal.

i'AVe get rid' of malefactors." he said, "for the same reason that we shoot mad dogs, lmt we have no right to humiliate them unnecessarily." Airs Braitiui'll Booth, in an interview declared that Demi Inge’s suggestion was horrible. She says: “A man has a right to die voluntarily for a great cause, as Christ died; hut this does not apply t" criminal condemned to death. It has been th,. privilege of the Salvation Army to deal witli many murderers, and make their shame fill death as happy as any Christian can experience. \Ye found again and again that, having reia'ived the assurance of Hod’s forgiveness,, the paving ul ihe penally for their crime was a light mat ter.

POST OFFICIALS AHMED. LONDON- November 5. Owing lo the I reqiienev of thietes holding lip British post olliees, n number of postal clerks have been in the habit of earning; revolvers. I In' llieli Court has decided (hat thi- is against the law. as the ollteials have no right to he armed without special authorisation

PI! IT!SI I SECPI'T POLICE. LONDON. November 1. The Australian Press Association reports: “We understand that in regard to Sir Basil Thompson’s dismissal ! rom the British Secret Service control he (Thompson) has long been the object ot Labour antagonism. The events which have now ciilmin ited m his summary dismissal ate an almost successful ’U-terferem'-e of sonic Sinn Eeiners with Air l.loyil Ceorge when the latter was leaving Chequers Court. It is no secret in ollieial quarters in I ondon that Air Lloyd Ceorge lirid a very narrow eseape from a distressing experieiiee. and indeed it is more than a suggestion tlial tlier" wen- a few seeeiids only between him and some tragedy. The responsibility for this is, hut unreasonably. thrown upon Sii Basil Thompson? A great deal has been made lay lit. Hon Air Short (Horn,. Minister) of tin' laid thnl Sir Basil Thompson has refused to co-operate with (tenoral llnrwnod, (he Commissioner of the London Police. Tho fuels are that Thompson was the trusted Secret Servin' ofl’teial of Scotland Yard before Air ,Short employed (leneral I lot-wood iu 1920. Thompson ohjoivteil In llorwood’s appointment. He said Iloi'wond was unsuitable. Thompson approached Mr Slim tt. who arranged with Thompson that he, as officer in charge of "Special Intelligence” should have direct access to the Minister. Mr Short t ohjeeted to Hits arrangement being placed mt,record. His nTywHoii.