PENAL FARMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 32, 7 February 1914, Page 4

PENAL FARMS.

The Wellington "Post" thinks that within an easily measurable future the public should be having proof of the benefit of well-managed penal farms for prisoners and the commun-' ity generally, and goes on to say : The Hon. A. L. Herdman, -Minister for ■justice, has given pleasant news of the building and other progress of the Waikeria reformative farm, which will be directed on self-supporting lines. The Minister and the Government deserve New Zealand's thanks for an active continuation of the policy which the late Mr James M'Gowau and Sir John Findlav set in motion. Medita-

tion on this social enterprise soon renews the wonderment in the long de-: lay with such a clearly necessary] change of an old custom, by which, i throughout the world, there has been a huge waste of man-power, to the, injury of the prisoner and the loss of the community. There has been much talk of harnessing rivers before sufficient trustworthy information as to rainfall and the seasonal changes of the streams has been obtained. There is a fascination in this thought of putting bit and bridle on the wild "whitesteeds" of remote places, but the earning power latent in prisoners, controlled by competent overseers, has not been systematically appiled to good profitable use. Thus a burly criminal of large appetite—a parasite be-

fore imprisonment—may continue to be a burden in gaol on the free honest men. Those persons in gaol should he obliged to at least carry their own weight; if justice was properly done, in a scientific manner, prisoners with capacity—if not inclination—for work should not lack opportunities to earn

something over their own cost -.f maintenance. The logical position is that the tree should lie a little tax on social offenders, instead of suffering taxation for the food, clothing, and safe housing of the criminals. Unquestionably the present situation is anomalous; it is a defect in the social scheme of things; it is bad from rhe utilitarian and reformative viewpoints', but changes are coming. That salutary institution at Waikeria does raise hopes.