VALUE QUESTIONED

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 6

VALUE QUESTIONED

STATE REFORMATORIES IN N.Z

SUPREME COURT .DISCUSSION

AUCKLAND, February 14

The problem of the reformative value of the .State institutions conducted for that purpose was raised in the Supreme Court yesterday by Mr A. H. Johnstone' when defending a prisoner who, although he had a number of convictions, had never had court--, el to speak for him before. Mr Johnstone cUrectly questioned the value of such an institution as Wereroa, and reiterated his stand when the Crown Prosecutor, Mr V: R. Meredith, took exception to his remarks. Air Johnstone Raid his client had been committed to Wereroa State Farm at the age of 15. “I trust I. am not saying too much’,” he added, “if I say that little in th.o way of reformation could bp expected from an inmate of that ■establishment.” His client had later been sent to the Borstal Institute at Invercargill. It might be said that he had later gon, e . wrong in spite of the training* of these institutions, but he was inclined, rather, to put forward the view that the man was a product of these institutions. Mr Meredith said he must take .exception to tk { , suggestion that the institutions in which the man had been placed were to some extent responsible ■for what had happened. Mr Johnstone said he did not recede one iota from what he had said, and if ■his friend pressed him lie should like to say a good diea.l more. The associations in these institutions were mo s t harmful. Mr Justice Herd-man ; It i'r very difficult to know what to do. They must be herded together. Air Alfredith said it was the iMuenc. e of the companionships, not of the institutions, that was bad.