WHEN INNOCENTS SUFFER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1926, Page 3

WHEN INNOCENTS SUFFER

DEPENDANTS OF PRISONERS

The necessity of some action being taken by the Government to place the support of dependants of gaol prisoners on a better footing was urged at a meeting of the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Association at New Plymouth. This question, together with that of aid for discharged prisoners, was brought before the recent New Zealand conference of justices, and cosnideration was deferred until tlie next conference, the views of the association to he obtained in the meantime.

“ There are some men who do ngt care twopence what happens to their dependants,” said Air A. W. Alowlem, S.M., president of tlie association, lie said that he could view the question from two standpoints. As a ratepayer called on for his share of the money required for charitable relief he might grumble when the hill was received, pay as cheerfully as lie might and then dismiss the matter. From a magistrate’s standpoint, 'however, the position was different. The fact of the matter was that magistrates very often were worried, perhaps unnecessarily, lost innocent people should suffer for the guilty. A man did wrong, was brought before the court, and it was plain that the one and only thing to do from his point of view and from the point of view of the public was to send him to gaol.

But there were otlier considerations. .Mr Alowlcm said lie always made a point of inquiring if a man had de|>endants, and if there were dependants he tried as far as possible to see that these innocent people did not have to suffer for tlie man’s crime. “ I can assure you that if von can do anything that will enable us to lie clear of that nightmare of what may happen to innocent wives and children, you will he doing a great service,” Mr Alowlcm said. Instances were quoted hv Mr M. Eraser, chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board, of relief having to he given to the dependants of prisoners, lie thought that the Government should take over the relief of such people, as it was not fair that any one section of the people should he called on to hear the burden.

Similar views were expressed by other speakers, and it was decided to refer the question to the committee of the association for a report.