PRISON LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1916, Page 7

PRISON LABOR.

FOR MAINTENANCE OF ROADS. NOT SUPPORTED BY CLIFTON COUNCIL. The question whether prison lahor should be used in maintenance work on county roads was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council. The discussion opened as the result of a circular letter received from the Botorua Chamber of Commerce, asking the Council's endorsement of the following resolution: 'That representations be made to the Government asking that prison labor be utilised in making and maintaining the main arterial roads of the Dominion.." The reasons given for the resolution wore as follows: "(a) The deplorable state of the roads entailing hardship, increasing cost of transport, and retarding settlement, etc.; (b) the various local bodies, County Councils, etc. having practically no funds available for the purpose; (c) the Government also having announced that owing to the war, grants for such purposes must be curtailed; (d) in other countries where prison labor is utilised in the making of roads, the work has proved beneficial to the prisoners themselves, morally and physically, and splendid roads have resulted; (e) the dearth of free labor makes the present time opportune for the utilisation of prison labor in the making and maintenance of roads." When the letter was read, the engineer (Mr. C. F. Dowsctt) observed that the scheme was not at all feasible. The chairman (Mr. A. M. Bower: "What I think the Government should do is bring the Germans from the internment camps, and put them on road work." A councillor: "The Government will do that if a proper guard is afforded." Cr, H. M. Purdic: "The Botorua Chamber's scheme might be suitable for some counties where there are long stretches of road to be attended to, but prison labor would be of no use in Clifton County." On the motion of Cr. S. J. Kennington it was decided that the letter be received, and the writers be informed the Council had no opinion to express.