THE PRISON SYSTEM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 204, 8 May 1912, Page 5

THE PRISON SYSTEM

MR. HANAN'S VIEWS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. In an interview to-day, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Justice, said that the appointment of Inspector Cullen to fill the position of Commissioner of seemed to have met with general approval. In all probability Inspector Mitchell, of Dunedin, would be appointed inspector at Auckland, An appointment to the vacant inspectorship had not yet been made. Speaking of prison reform, the Minister said that this question was being considered. Some changes would be made to bring about a better classification of prisoners, to secure a higher standard of efficiency, and to better the administration of prisons. He expected, to be able to make an announcement concerning this matter later on. There was need in the face of what had'taken place recently at Lyttelton gaol' that prison discipline should be stiffened up. While he was quite in accord with the idea that the prisoners should be fairly treated, he was very firmly of the opinion that they should be made to realise that in prison they could not do as they liked. Obedience must be strictly enforced. A number of the prisoners possibly were influenced by the very free public discussion of the question of prison reform, and had evidently construed it to mean that they were not to be interfered with in any way, or be subjected to discipline while in gaol. The construction of prison buildings and the scarcity of yard accommodation made it exceedingly difficult to carry out a system of classification, but he hoped to be able to do something in that direction in the near future.