Purgatory of Prison.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 20, 21 July 1911, Page 12

Purgatory of Prison.

COOKE'S EXPOSE.

F. R. Cooke, Socialist candidate for Christchurch Fast, addressed a meeting of over 2,000 persons in His Majesty's Theatre on Sunday, July 9. Comrade Howard presided. Fresh from his experiences in Dyttelton goal, Cooke exposed the mockery of our prison reform and the depraving influence of our treatment oi' criminals by herding indiscriminately murderers, ravishers and mere youths sentenced for a brief period. The scanty protection afforded by the regulation allowance of bed-clothing resulted in at least 20 per cent, of tlie inmates suffering from bronchial complaintsTlie method of dealing with sick prisoners was revolting in its heartlessness. Comrade Cooke declared that there was not one prisoner who served any sentence of length who did not emerge from prison a worse felon than when he went in. Ho personally had been instructed in tlie theoretical knowledge neeesrsary to "crack a crib. At the conclusion of the meeting tv following resolution, moved by P. XT. Mickey, was agreed to with but one dbsentsnt : ''Tlnst- m view of the startling information brought to light by Mr. Cooke, this meeting of citi;-_ calls upon tlie Goveruinent to immediately institute an inquiry into our system of prison reform, with a view of eliminating all cruelties and thy substitution of a rational treatment which mru'e-m science has dc-mons.-tr.itod is the only cure for that disease known a.> crime."