LIFE IN MT. EDEN GAOL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 852, 21 December 1929, Page 1

LIFE IN MT. EDEN GAOL

Former Inmates Give Their Version

VIEWS ON PENAL SYSTEM

RELATING their experiences in Mt. Eden Prison, two exinmates contribute their opinions to the controversy on New Zealand’s penal system. A condemnation of the system was made by the Eev. Charles Chandler, assistant-City Missioner, in THE .SUN on December 10, and was replied to in Thursday’* issue by Mr. B. L. Dallard, Controller-General of jrrisons.

•'Ex-Inmate” writes as follow’s:

“Apropos of the comments recently made by the Cltj’ Missioner. the Rev. Charles Chandler, on certain phases of prison administration, I was rather surprised to read a letter from a correspondent some days ajjo professing astonishment that the procedure of the Mount Eden hostel involves a weekly shave and weekly change of clothing. While congratulating your correspondent on his evident non-acquain-tance with the interior of such places, I would like to point out that, unless conditions have improved out of all knowledge. Mr. Chandler has not the accurate inside information common to all inmates. A weekly shave! I would prefer to describe it as a weekly torturing. Why, many a time I put an edge on a penknife keener than the razors in ‘‘the Mount” ever knew how to be, while as to clothing, flannels and underwear are changed once in a fortnight! Shirts, pillowslips, towels, socks and handkerchiefs are changed weekly, summer or winter. According to the prison regulations, no inmate is allowed to use his own razor, or any of his private gear unless by the express sanction of the authorities, which, I may say, is seldom given. Yet all the gaol barbers are prisoners. A man has only to say he is a barber by occupation to get the job, as there is an extra ounce plug of “row-row” (tobacco) attached thereto. This, along with letters, etc., is distributed on Saturday afternoons, when the men are allowed to smoke or walk about the yards as they please until 4 p.m. On the day of discharge, a prisoner brings his blankets to the store, after which they are supposed to be fumigated—l haven’t actually witnessed the process—and given to the next poor unfortunate who happens to hobble along. Anyway, the blankets I was given had an odour like a dead sheepskin, and during the search —every afternoon each cell is assiduously and systematically searched—they were often thrown about on the floor of the cell. About all a prisoner can have sent into him are books or magazines. and these are most earnestly scrutinised before being given out. Some of the warders are superior men. but many are just the very reverse of gentlemen, and the way they bang those iron doors! Character moulding: Ye gods, if that is what was aimed at when the powers that were framed or moulded the system of prison regime that obtains in this Dominion. I find it difficult to believe. FIGHTS AMONG PRISONERS Fights among prisoners are as common as court cases, for the men herded together are as much unlike in character. education, nature and capabilities as a green pea and a snow crystal. All classes, from ordinary drunks to violent murder maniacs are congregated, not segregated, as they ask you to believe, to an extent that I think could be greatly mitigated. In cases where it is deemed advisable, men are drafted out to the various camps, where conditions are more moderate, and more freedom is allowed. La Rangitoto camp, which is under the control of Mount Eden, men doing up to six months have the benefit (by which they do not always profit) of fresh air and extra rations, and stores go over twice a week. I don’t know what the activities of the Howard League of Penal Reform really are, but when it has some time to spare it might look into the ques- i

tion of “Imprisonment versus Reformative Detention*” between which I believe the great majority of people think there is a vast difference. The only difference that 1 could see was that those undergoing the latter treatment wore blue coats —a distinction without a difference, and in Mount Eden, too.”

The following letter is also from an ex-inmate:

In yesterday’s Sun the ControllerGeneral of Prisons publishes a report from the medical officer of health and Mr. F.. K. Hunt, S.M., on an inspection of Mount Eden prison in which they stated: “An excellent hot water system was installed and hot water showers were available for the prisoners,” making it appear vhat the prisoners could have a. shower daily. Do these gentlemen and the ControllerGeneral know that the prisoners can have a shower bath, or bath of any sort, on Saturday afternoons only? We all know how “sticky” we feel this humicl weather, and how we enjoy our cold shower, yet these inmates can only have a bath once a week! Again, the report says: “Sanitary facilities are most up-to-date.” Goodness, what a travesty of fact. Inside the gaol building there are no sanitary facilities which would be tolerated in any outside institution. The so-called “up-to-date” facilities consist of a benzine tin. This serves the inmates of a cell. There may be two or three men in a cell. Some disinfectant is used, but as the inmates (except those who work outside in the quarry) must use these conveniences day and night, it is not difficult to imagine the atmosphere in which they must sleep and eat their meals. Of course, when the inspection was made everything was spick and span. Let the inspection be a surprise one at 7 a.m. V/ATER FOR ALL PURPOSES

Again, the report says: “There was a basin of water in each cell.” Do the gentlemen making the report know that this basin of water, containing about two quarts, has to do the two or three mmates of each cell for drinking, washing their faces and hands, cleaning their teeth, and washing eating utensils? If they drink it, so much less to wash with, and vice versa. Two men could drink easily the prison allowance. Tea (without milk or sugar) is given only at one meal. The morning and evening meal consists of porridge and the ration of dr~ bread issued once a day. Consiclei the heat generated in the body from the porridge consumed and the dryness of dry bread, and you get some idea of the thirsts the men have, and that basin of water would seem but a mere spoonful to some of us free men! How do the prisoners manage, readers may wonder. Well, those who work in the quarry can wash their faces and hands and drink the water at the taps out there, and thus let their cell mates have a wee drop extra.

No, Mr. Controller-General, your prisons and officials are bound by regulations passed 30 years ago and to quote a previous prison chaplain, “they are out of date and out of touch with humanity.” The whole system wants remoulding so that these unfortunates can be made to feel that they are being helped to regain their self-respect, not hardened and brutalised as under the present conditions of coarse food, coarse living, coarse everything. Would that we had welfare men of Mr. Chandler’s calibre and outspokenness attached to every prison in New Zealand. LET’S BE HUMAN.