DETENTION AT WAIKERIA

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1929, Page 2

DETENTION AT WAIKERIA

"development of estate. REFORMAT! ON WITHOUT RESTRAINT. TEACHING USEFUL OCCUPATIONS Waikeria Borstal Institute, situated ten miles out of Te Awamutu, apart from being an institution that aims at the moral reform of young prisoners, lias achieved much in the direction of bringing barren wastes into cultivation, states the Auckland “Star.” In the l(i years of its existence, 50,H) acres have been won to productivity, and to-day the picturesque estate ranks among the choicest in a fertile district. The land has been well loaded and fenced by prison labour, and on it separate herds of Jersey and Shorthorn cattle pasture contentedly, pigs and sheep are raised, and fruit and garden produce cultivated. The application of successful farming methods to the property lias made the institution self-supporting, for produce not required foi the inmates is marketed. Exceptional success lias been achieved in daily tmining, some of the cows producing upwards of 6131 b of butterfat in a season. CLOSER SETTLEMENT URGED. Such is., the excellence of the farm that settlers of the district are turning envious eyes toward it. Indeed, on the occasion of the Minister of Lands’ (Hon G. W. Forbes) visit to Te Awamutu recently, the desirability of cutting up the property for closer settlement was impressed upon him. From a national standpoint it was urged that it would be of advantage periodically to shift institutions such as Waikeria to fresh field's and pastures new, so that land that would otherwise he allowed to lie idle might he broken in at a figure that is almost prohibitive to the ordinary settler. Eighty-acre farms are considered the ideal, but whether or not the scheme will come to anything remains to be seen, for Waikeria is an institute that has accommodation and cells for several hundreds of prisoners. The inmates of the institution consist largely of offenders against the law whose age range principally from 20 to 25. They have an opportunity to learn every branch of farming, and work the property with singularly little supervision, being placed largely on trust. In the case of these young men, all that many of them require is a change of environment, and by the system of prison reform practised at Waikeria they have an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves as respectable members of society. And their labours are not' for nothing. They are paid according to the work they do, and some of them send as much as £7 a month to their dependents. One inmate at the moment has £4l to his personal credit and this, together with accumulated salary, will be paid to him on his release from the institution. INMATES’ WELFARE STUDIED. Everything possible, is done at Waikeria to keep the prisoners’ minds occupied. Efforts are made to improve their intellect, and, in addition to ;there being a ..well-equipped library at their disposal, school Is held nightly so that they might attain a sixth standard education at least. No obstruction is placed in their way of taking university courses as well. ’Their physical development is also given at.tention. Cricket, tennis and football are played, while in the evenings they are permitted the free run of a recreation room that is fitted up with bagatelle, ping-pong and wireless sets. Carpentering is also taught as a trade and all the furniture in the dining room jwas made on the premises. Practically everything consumed “by the inmates is produced on the estate. (And as for the quality of the food, one has only to look at the prisoners themselves to judge that they are well catered for. Their diet is varied, although each week the orders are repeated. Soups and vegetables of all kinds are liberally supplied, while tho meat dishes include roast joints, boiled beef, savoury mince, haricot beef and

savoury liot pots. Golden syrup is a delicacy, while puddings appear frequently on the menu that is more enticing than those presented in many hotels. 'Hie prisoners arc the cooks, bakers, blunderers and “housemaids,” and the institution, which occupies a commanding position overlooking acres of beautiful undulating country, is a model of efficiency and cleanliness. An inspection of Waikeria is sufficient to demonstrate that It is an excellent institution of its kind, and is functioning in a. humane fashion and a way that is achieving excellent results.