REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL CLASS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 224, 15 September 1908, Page 4

REFORM OF THE CRIMINAL CLASS.

A SI'UIiJSSTI&D SWSTKJI. A local gentleman, who lias devoted considerable alU'ution Lo the question of prison work and the reformatio Jiof the criminal, was seen tlie other day by a representative of tlliti journal. TJie conversation concerned the man Archi-" liald McNeill, who, after doing nearly two years' solitary eoulinement in the indeterminate ward oi tin; Js'ew l'lyniouth gaol (being the only "habitual" iu the specially provided quarters) was released on probation, and made his escape, The pit sent system, recently evolved and enacted, oi treating habitual criminals with a view to their reCorination, came in for pretty strong condemnation. "How," it was asked, "is it possible for a man to become right-minded, industrious, trust-worthy, ami honest, when he is locked in his cell with stone walls for company ami monotonous mat-making for his daily occupation '( And how are we to know that a maa has reformed when he is never seen beyond the L-onlines of the gaol building. Can a man be said *'o resist temptation when the fact is that lie is detained in prison and kept from temptation! And is this enforced freedom from temptation likely to give stamina to resist when the mail js eventually returned lo Uio haunts of men and surrounded by the snares which earlier entrapped him'/ And can a man with a taint of the chief or forger in liiui be expected to turn honest and remain honest if ho is released irum the prison practically ponniless and ashamed to return to his friends J" Such a I string of questions provided food ior thought, and the reporter asked if any better scheme for the treatment oil habitual criminals could be devised. In answer, the gentleman in question enunciated the following proposal, prefacing it with the remark that he was a practical farmer, with dairying and agricultural experience 111 different parts of the Diniinion. "Yes," he said, "1 have a seheino, and one that i hope wi'l commend itself favorably to the Government and the community. Until something of this sort is done 1 fail to see how we can 'bring about a reform amongst men of this unfortunate class. Under the present system we merely employ the men iu prison, but 1 am fully convinced that that is not the solution of tlie problem. We cannot do them any good by keeping under lock and key. 31v belief is that if these men are given plenty o£ fresh air, j a certain amount of liberty, combined ] with intellectual labor, and some remuneration for work done, they will woi'k their own salvation. -What 1 suggest is that the Government should . set aside a* block of land—not necessarily first-class land—as a .farm for habitual criminals. T'hey might reserve bush land, and set the prisoners to fell tlie bush, saw it, build a barracks and the necessary farm buildings, and market surplus timber." ■ That would involve the employment of a big supervising stall'," commented the reporter. lie went on: "111 three years tile felled area could be self-supporting. 11, however, open country were selected, say, Spotsvood Settlement, the Government might stock it straight away with a good strain of dairy cattle from its experimental stations. The milk could be supplied to a dairy factory, or, iu the winter months, manufactured into butter and cheese on the place. The farm manager, who must be a thoroughly competent man, would see Unit only tlie best of young stock was kept, and gradually a line dairy lierd would be built up, which ought to be a profitable undertaking. Proved milking strains of cattle are always in demand, and the Government could do the farmers of the Dominion a service by placing such stock.at their disposal. It should be (lossible, too, to go in ior .pig and poultry-raising both profitable industries, and supply either the local or outsido markets. Further, the manager could utilise portion of the farm in raising tlii; usual hay and other winter fodder, aiid, if in a suitable locality, the farm might raise and sell seed potatoes, etc., to the farmers. "You naturally want to know how long it is' proposed to keep the men on the farm, how they ai'e to be fed, and whether tliev are to b c paid for their woiik. My proposal is that every man, upon completion of liis sentence allotted ill respect of his crime, should be draftid on to tlie farm upon three months' probation. <ll'aving completed that term lie should continue on the farm until the expiration of a further two years at least.. Where possible a man should bo employed at his trade, but, of course, the allotment of work would be at the discretion of the mana"cr. 'Kucli man's work should be credited to him, and 1 would have the wages graduated according to the position occupied. For instance, it would not he fair to pay milkers at the same rate as an engine-driver or butter-makei, and so on. The man. should be "found." that is, provided with food and clothing, by the Government, and Unclothes might be. made on the place. At the expiration of the term of two years, the manager would have to decide whether or not each individual had qualified for release, and make a recommendation to the proper quarter. I maintain that under this system jt would be quite possible to tell the fitness or otherwise of a man to re-enter the whirl of everyday life, but I fail-to see how such a thing is possible under the present unsatisfactory system. "Now we liave the man released. He has served liis sentence, and behaved himself for two years. What is to become of himl He js a farm hand. The manager lias no hesitation, in recommending him as such, and the chances are that he will find employment. Or ; the Government may ofl'er him a billot, on the farm itself, or on one of its experimental stations. llctter still, to suitable, men the Government could give special facilities to make a home, setting aside .perhaps a hundred acres of land and selling on the deferred payment system, jfost men would jump at the chance, and a man. working hard on his own farm would have very little time or inclination to return to erimiuijl ways. ■ "So far I have only dealt with the satisfactory cases. 1 mentioned about a three months' probation. The regulations would provide that any probationer not suitable, in the opinion of the manager, for life on the farm, should be sent back to the ''reformatory," and moneys ( .arned by him to be confiscated. Any prisoner breaking the regulations, or proving refractory in any way during his term on the place should be immediately returned to confinement in the reformatory prison iu Xew Plymouth for a further period of twelve months, and then, if thought proper, lie could have another chance. Upon his retui'ii lo the farm he would find that moneys earned by him prior to his misconduct had been retained to his account. It seems to me that the farm should lie entirely self-supporting, and the only outlay necessary would bo at the start,, in erecting tlie necessary buildings and purchasing fencing material. "I am fully conviuced that the Government could with little difficulty procure from the prison officials a suitable practical man for the managership, and I Mil also convinced that until something of this kind is done there is little hope far the reformation of the habitual criminal. At the present rate of increase (he habitual criminals will soon be a pretty considerable number of men, and it puzzles meXto imagine how they are to become fit to return amongst their fellows if they are kept caged up behind stone walls, chafing at the ever-present restraint and brooding over tllcir troubles. Let them occupy body and mind iu healthy fashion, and, upon their release place them in a position to hold up their heads and earn an honest livelihood, which, I am sorry to say, so few oE them are holped at present to do."