New Zealand's Prison System Revolutionised

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 400, 14 July 1928, Page 24

New Zealand's Prison System Revolutionised

Written for THE SUN by

T. WALSH.

The 2 orison system of New Zealand has been completely revolutionised since 1911-12. The old , relentless code which aimed at putting a convict into gaol , there to be punished , has given way to the newer idea that a laicbreaker is punished by being sent to gaol and that instead of being cast on society's scrap-heap he should be “ Rebuilt ” and made a useful member of the community.

- HE "broad arrow,” that shudder-producing symbol ot State vengeance, has been abandoned IaST] along with other emblems of barbarism; and the formal dropping of that sign signified the change from the old code to the new. The early gaols in New Zealand were places of restraint, where each gaoler treated prisoners as harshly as he thought fit. In 18S0 the Government brought Colonel (then Captain) Hume to remodel the system. He. had been deputy-governor of Dartmoor. He reported that he found the gaols neither deterrent nor reformative, and advised their immediate enlargement so as to permit the classification of the inmates, “who should be kept in separate cells except when on the works, at exercise or at Divine service.” The system whereby prisoners had their meals together and spent their sphre time in association "was most detrimental to discipline.” The educating of prisoners, he believed, was a mistake, and he "knew that the assembling of prisoners together for the purposes of school tended to great irregularity.” His iron code with its discipline (in practice, the repression of the prisoner) formed the basis of our method of handling the steady stream of wrecked humanity that came from the courts to the gaol doors. Gaunt prison buildings appeared close to car towns; for it was so in England. The colonel forgot that while a town in England may fill a gaol, a whole province in New Zealand could not furnish sufficient inmates to do so. Colonel Hume retired in 1909, but even before that public opinion had forced a departure from his idea of treating the unfortunate who saw the prison gate close behind him. By 1911 control of the gaols had become so disjointed that the gaolers themselves had to urge a change. While the purely administrative side of the punitive system was thus moving toward “reform” the circumstances of political party government brought into the office of Minister of Justice, Mr. J. A. Hannan, Mr. A. L. Herdman, now judge of the Supreme Court, and Sir John Findlay, who not only leaned to more humane treatment of prisoners, but had the will to see that such was brought about. In 1886 the Hon. J. A. Tole had introduced the First Offenders Act. At a seven-day conference under the chairmanship of the Hon. Mr. Hannan the gaolers agreed tnat one of their own number should be made inspector—the office was then held by a reverend gentleman—the claim being that a man who had served many years actually handling prisoners was better fitted to bring about uniformity in the control of the gaols. Each gaoler was practically a law unto himself. Before effect could be given to the recommendation the Hon. Mr. Hannan was

replaced in office by Mr. Herdman. After much opposition he set out to find just what was required. He took the late Mr. C. E. Matthews from the Police Department and made him Controller of Prisons and, as chief assistant to him, appointed Mr. M. Hawkins, then in charge of Invercargill Gaol, and well known for advanced views in gaol reform. Thus came into existence a partnership of a departmental head, with wide experience of the workings of political machinery, and an actual gaol controller, who had 30 years’ training in locking up men. They were given wide powers, and the introduction of the Borstals into New Zealand was the result of Mr. Hawkins’s advocacy. Mr. Matthews leaned to the idea of keeping men out of gaol, and strove to get the system of probation widened to that end. In fact his death cut short plans for setting up a probation system where the officers who have had special training

In that work now would have become, under himself as head, a separ- ; a te department, thus taking the administration of probation from the purely punitive end of the iav- system. While the actual officials were planning reform, the Ministers of Justice introduced pow ers that enabled them to go ahead. 1 .us the probation system was reviewed and enlarged in scope; the Bor- I stal system was formally sanctioned alter a slight trial; tree planting camps were improved and the provision made tor the payment of prisoners and the granting of aid to their dependents I Dunedin and Lyttelton Gaols were shut down. The Ten . , Wellington gave way to a public school. These "prison walls" were replaced by prison camps, and with Mr Matthews as Secretary fot Justice and J' Ha "’ k ins as Director of W'or! a,uoo acres of estuary were reclaimed j

at Invercargill, and the Borstal fa™ established there. Brick making wii carried on in Wellington, and whila the tree planting schemes were pushed ahead, the National Park at Tongariro was roaded, and a sawmill was erected at Waikune. The aim of thus employing prison labour on usetcl and revenue-producing work was t» have the men actually earn the money paid to them or their dependents, which was exceeding £S,OOO a year. The actual revenue credited to the prisons, in the year ended March, 193 (which is not the full amount earned as many subsidiary services are nm included) amounted to £.1*1. 154 against £5.151 in 1312. Mount Eden, within £20,000 from quarrying, is the bigger, reveuue-produrer, but it is inte r esting to note that boots, timber, lead-headed nails. mailbags, tailoring, bricks, bread, concrete blocks, floor polish and tinware figure in the revenue-earning departments, as well as farm prodne* (£27,000) and road works (£15,879). A project that has not yet reached the productive stage is the breaking-in « pumice land, which will later be sold as improved farms. At the Borstal, in Invercargill, one sees the greatest change from the o«

code. To this place all youths h®** 19 years are sent. The (arm s' from the tide is valued at Hundreds of cattle of the finest are utilised in dairying, with farming as a side-line, and there sheep-run to aid both. The ye are taught trades —ironmaking, ing. metalworking, breadm !Se» woodworking, bootmaking, c 0“, j, t block making, etc., and special officers. They have gymnasium, football and ® grounds, a swimming pool, a ba ~ h orchestra, and radio and gramoP entertainments. School U P $ sixth standard in public sin handled bv school teachers a subject to examination •>> „ school inspectors A compulsory. Students may ‘| olirsfS Continued on Paoe