Citizens Say—

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 8

Citizens Say —

(To the Editor.)

MOUNT EDEN GOAL Sir, — Why labour the pros and cons of the latest Buckley exploit? Desperate men, anywhere, will take desperate chances. But Mount Eden prison has become notorious for the apparent easo with which prisoners have, from time to time, escaped from it. Therefore I suggest it is relevant to inquire whether everything possible lias been done in that institution to reduce to a minimum opportunities that might tempt would-be gaol-breakers. If not, then the authorities, in my opinion, are not only failing in their duty, but also are unfair both to prisoners and staff at Mount Eden. FAIR PLAY. SHOOTING STRAIGHT Sir, I have read with some interest the controversy that has been proceedingin the Citizens Say column on the subject of the shooting of escaping prisoners. Many humanitarian souls will agree that it is not right that a poor hunted man should be shot. But if they do, their hearts will be over-rul-ing their good sense. Supposing a desperate and hardened criminal who had shown signs of homicidal tendencies escaped from Mount Eden Gaol and began to prowl round the immediate neighbourhood of the prison. Supposing that lie killed a couple of citizens, and then transferred his activities to the neighbourhood of some of the housewives who have complained that such men should not be shot when attempting to escape. After three or four nights of suspense and terror, with the homicidal one still uncaught, I venture to say that the humanitarians would raise a cry to high heaven: “What are our warders doing that they can't shoot prisoners who escape?” SURPRISED. SHOOTING ESCAPING PRISONERS Sir.— If j our correspondent had read (arid assimilated) the history of the penal code of Great Britain he would be less profligate of statement and would realise that there are many- things worth knowing not dreamt of in his philosophy. Is your correspondent

aware that when it was proposed to abolish the hanging of children for theft the then Home Secretary objected on the ground that tin! drastic remedy was necessary to prevent the younger generation growing up as thieves and pickpockets? What a howl went up in England when it was -proposed to abolish flogging in the Army and Navy I And this regulation was not one whit more brutal than the one under discussion. Every important reform in our penal code had to be bitterly fought for. To deprive a man of his liberty is punishment enough, and the prisoners who attempt to escape are few and far between. No one suggests that if a thief comes into our house we should take him into the drawingroom and feed him on chicken pie. I am confident that the spirit that has purged our penal code of so many barbarous regulations will (at an early date) remove this hideous blot on our civilisation, the shallow reasoning of an anonymous correspondent notwithstanding. HERBERT MULVIHILL. “TOLERANCE” Sir. — In reply to Mr. Mulvihill I think most of us agree with his sentiments regarding escaped prisoners. It would be a poor look-out for New Zealand if we did not. Any injustice, whether reai. or fancied, should receive full investigation, and I think more good will be done by a rule of love and tolerance. PROGRESS. Albany. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Sir, — Although the letter by “Cautious” professes to be an answer to mine, I think our views are not opposed. 1 agree with him that no scheme of “relief” should be introduced without careful study of our special agrarian and industrial conditions having been -Ail 1 was concerned with was criticising the unbusinesslike attitude of certain businessmen in objecting to “men being paid to bo idle.” I merely wished to remind them that the poverty (voluntary or involuntary, permanent or temporary) of any section of the community does great harm to the rest. The community will not allow any of its members to be without water, even though they may not be able to pay their water rates—for persons without the necessities of cleanliness are a menace. Similarly the community should not allow men to be without the necessities of a healthy existence, for not only will

they become a burden on Pn' a ’* people who may already be ha ™ pressed for money and a <1 ongcr those with a. superfluity of it. but tn will lose their capacity (both pbyslca* and psychological) to serve the community when presently their lat>° will again he needed. . Hence some form of relief better tn * the morally-enervating charity of rei works —somo form of insurance ■ needed. Its exaet nature 1 leavethose to decide who have the opp tunity to do so. A M 11STARTING AT RACES Sir, — I see there are to be two more rac - days at Ellerslie on Saturday sn Monday next. It is In tho Interest o the public that the Racing Club s»°u seo that everything is in order at tn barrier before tho race starts. have no more of the type of star v * witnessed at Avondale. One does n - mind getting a run for one’s mon > but when one- gets no run at all , over the odds. I suggest that the stewards be at the barrier to - things are right before a n*®®* starter is there to do his job. ''a. blame the Jockey and horse? A line-up is what we want: then the barrier. SPO RT.