NOT WANTED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12606, 17 November 1926, Page 2

NOT WANTED

AGED INFIRM PRISONERS REFUSE© ADMISSION TO HOME. Per Press Association. ' AUCKLAND, November 16. Objection to an application by the Cobtroller-General of Prisons for consent to the admission to the Auckland infirmary of two prisoners, one aged 80 and the other 71 years, was voiced by the Hospital BoarJ to-night? The board had previously'-declined to adpnit the elder prisoner, who was said to be in prison for a sexual offence, and a renewed application was made on humanitarian grounds as the prisoner was said to have reached a state of senility, although not bad enough for a mentnl institution to which endeavoursj had been made to send him. The other prisoner was at present in prison at Wanganui. He was due for release shortly, and it was suggested the infirmary authorities might care for him in the evening of his days. Mr W. Wallace, chairman of the board, moved: “That tlie board adhere to its previous decision, and decline to accede to tlie requests.” Tile infirmary, lie said, was not a place for criminals. It was the duty of the Government to care for aged and infirm prisoners, and it mljst not allowed to foist them on to the ratepayers of Aucklanj). Ho was quite sure, too, that tlie other old people irt the home would resent tlie admission of men from prisons. The nation was carried.