Imprisoned Strikers

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 15 November 1912, Page 2

Imprisoned Strikers

TREATMENT IN JAIL.

THE ROUTINE

MR. O'REGAN AND THE MINISTER

Mr. P. J. O'Regan has been in correspondence with the Hon. the Minister for Justice with reference to the treatment of the men imprisoned in Mount Eden Jail, and the following letter throws some light on the "discipline" to which the prisoners are subjected : —

Department of Justice,

Wellington, Nov. 2. 1912

Sir, —In further reply to your letter of the 25th October, I have to say that persons imprisoned in default of finding sureties of tho peace are required to conform to the prison regulations relating to second-class misdemeanants.

They are required to wear prison clothing, and are allowed to correspond ir-onthly with their friends and to receive visits once a week at a convenient hour.

They receive the scale of rations for prisoners not performing hard labor. They are allowed four hours' exercise rl'iily, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, but this may be or-ctfnded by the jailer to such time as may be practicable nnd convenient.

They are allowed books and magazines in accrdance with the prison rules, but newspaper* are not permitted.

"I am unable to sanction any departure from the ordinary regulations in these cases, but you may rest assured that the regulations will not be administered with undue severity. — Yours faithfully, A. L. HERDMAN.

Mr. O'Regan !*as written in reply that there appears no good reason why the men should be deprived of the daily newspapers, and asking the Minister if he cannot see his way to allow the men the benefit of perusing the news of the day, even if some of the magazines have to be sacrificed.