WI TAKO PRISON

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1930, Page 7

WI TAKO PRISON

CONGENIAL jSURROUNBINOS

INSPECTION OF CAMP

Tucked away behind one of the busji- , la., mils ilial run down from the 1 ranges at the oacit of Trentham camp is tlie Wi Take lleformatqry Camp. Here the inmates are helped .in every way to recover their seii-respect and 10 become useful citizens, file superintendent. (Mr O. B. Blain and. his stall arc men of broad outlook and wide sympathies who believe there is good in ail men, and that‘under prqper conm.iqus and ueminent this can be devcio^ea.

jn. ongh the courtesy of the Attorloir 1 nomas Sidey), delegates to the conie.en-e of the New Ho..ara neague for Penal Reiur.ii, wuicii nas been meeting in Weli.iig.ou iiuri..g the past lew days, were ma...uy g.\eu an opportunity of iu«..e camp and seeing for ti.cni.'-'Ci. cs me conailions uiK.er which „i,e inmates nve and tlie good work rue Huso ns Lepar-nient is doing for me lOuaiiiuUitiOii of those making an enforced stay there. Sir Thomas, who had not previously paid a visit to Wi i'ako, was accompanied by Lady fei.aey. The Controller-General of Prisons' (Mr B. L. Ballard) the nepdty-Con k roiler (Mr B. A.v. Mackattcs.ij also a-compamed the; party.

SLEEPING CUBICLES;

After members of the party had ag.,en the \ is.tors' boon they were cunuucted over uie camp by tlie Supci iiiic.iueut (Air JJ. Biaiu; apd Mr Bai,ura vwio explained the wo-rit , carried cm in tne various departments and me uay ; s routine at V».i Tako. The camp itself is built on thebarrack oiptare principle, with a large courtm u 111 ti.e centre. The aciniimstrative cilices are 011 one side, Two sides are tuiteii up by sleepingquarters, and on the remaining side is I ;the cookhouse, si.it bay, wash; house, '{Maundry, library, and common rconi. ■ff .V

There is no drab greyiiessf usually associated with durance yile'ifibout tlie nail in which the sleeping, cubicles are situated. The colour) seheihedth'roughout is bright and warm. The .inside of the buildings: rpliinted inflight colours, with quite ah. artistic.; finish, t while anything ‘in the- native; of Untidiness is conspicuous bv its,.absence. The cubicles are beautifully clean and light, with shelving and h" comfortable bed. .. ; 'Tv-.'

In the cookhouse and bakery there was the same spotless condition and cleanliness. Moving about ' in their White garb, the taker and 'cook were more like employees of a - well-Orclereu hotel then men undergoing Sentences for breaches of the criminal code. The various other shops such v as that of the bootmaker, were also visited. Inmates have the., opportunity of learning a trade by working with a fellow inmate .engaged in it. In the library there is a varied assortment of

literature amounting to some- 2000 volumes, and books are issued as often as required. In the common.room pictures are screened at intervals by the Y.M.C.A., games are played, competitions entered into, and frequently concerts and lectures are given. CLEARING OF HEAVY TIMBER. Many of the inmates are at present engaged in clearing the heavy timber from the rifle-range swamp land below the camp. The Hrisons Bepartment has the grazing rights of this, and by removing the timber, digging over cue ground, and laying it down in new grass, its stock-carrying capacity will be greatly, increased. There is a flock of some 500. sheep at the farm, with all conveniences, in the way of drafting yards and a shearing shed.

A large plot is also devoted tp market gardening, and the, produce from this

is forwarded to the-Wellington markets. The return to the' department as a result is a very considerable one, and at the same time it the burden of prison expenditure on the taxpayer. Bread from the camp bakery 'js also sold to the military authorities at Trentham.

A large plot above the c-amn . buildings is laid out in garden. In this both flowers and vegetables are grown, khe work of keeping it in cultivation, However, is purely voluntary on the part of several of the inmates who mane it their special care of an evening after tea. Winding paths have been constructed throughout the . adjoining bush, the. main track leading to a cairn erected by the inmates to the memory of the late Rev. J. Holmes, of the Presbyterian Church, at Upper Hutt. The following inscription painted on a glass panel on the stone speaks for itself: “The Rev. James Holmes, visited' this prison as a minister of the Gospel and a friend in time of trouble, and Wj Tako is all the better because he visited here.” Mr Holmes was the firm friend of all inmates. He was their inspiration, and the gardens which are laid out in the courtyard to-day are the result of liis encouragement a,nd sympathy. Before returning to Wellington the party was entertained to morning tea, which was laid out at a picturesque bower of rustic tables ;and chairs in tne bush, At a' suitable , opportunity the chairman of the league •,(Air R. M. Laing) thanked Hir; Thomas' Sibley for ■the 1 .opportunity jie had; I given . them of visiting the camp; : ,’They woud ■ gp away, ; he said very favourably impressed with what, they had seen, . \ Sir Thomas Sidey said that in\ inspecting ' the - camp that morning ne. had wondered how many people in the world in similar circumstances there were living in surroundings like they had seen. The camp dealt with the sides of nature that were well worth encouraging, He felt sure that anj man who came to Wi Tako, . and spent some time there and was subjected to its influence, could not but lie .tenter for it,

Mr Ballard said Wi Tako was oniy a small camp of between 80 and 90 inmates, but •it was a definite indication of what, the department wa* aiming for at its other institutions. All were conducted on lines conducive to bring the best out of man.