NAPIER GAOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1919, Page 5

NAPIER GAOL.

"A CRIMINAL MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION." •By Telegraph;— Press Association. Chriatehttrch, Monday. "As for Napier gaol, it was a oriminal manufacturing association," passionately remarked Rev. J.- R. Archer, at a meetmg of the Council of Churches to-night, when the business was the discussing of a motion that the committee should inquire into and Teport on the treatment of prisoners in gaols in New Zealand. Mr. R. D. Martin, mover of the motion, said the churches had let the matter paas unheeded in the past, but the present treatment in gaols was a relic of savagery, and he gave many details. Mr. A. L. Bcaven said if the Council supported lite motion thev would be taking up an attitude condemning the Justice Department on the word of one man.

Rev. Archer declared the Napier gaol was a disgrace to civilisation. What he Raw in th ß t gaol—and he had often V1 ™ ed it - was positively abominable. The motion was carried, Mr. Bevari dissenting, and remarking that he believed what Mr. Martin had said was a tissue of exaggerations,

Christchureh, Last Night. In regard to the charges against the Napier, prison made by R, D. Martin at the Council of Churches last night, the following official information has been received from Wellington: The Napier prison is only used for short-sentence prisoners, and the average number there is 1« or 17 The building js old, but thoroughly satisfactory and sanitary. It is eo-.star.tly visited by visiting Justices and others, and there has been no single complaint in any case. The property has been sold to the Napier Borough council, which takes possession in April next. GREAT INDIGNATION CAUSED, •n. t. Napier, Last Night. ~ *!!? Rev - J - O. Aroher's statements re tlie Napier gaol have caused great indienation locally. Gaoler J, C. Scanlon, in his official position, did not feel disposed to say very much. However, he wonder«d what definite allegations could be made. At one time, about four or five years ago, the gaol was somewhat overcrowded, but that would not warrant such severe criticism. Mr. Archer was chaplain to the gaol between 1910 and li) 13. Mr. Scanlon was of the opinion that if he saw such shocking sights he had neglected his duty sadly in not faking it public at the time. Mr. Scanlon would welcome the permission of the Department to throw the prison open for inspection by the press and reputable citizens.

Mr. J. S. Large, who has been a visiting Justice for 30 years,' characterises the statements as quite erroneous. "I haVe never seen anything like the rubbish that fellow waß talking." The Rev. J. Hobbs states: "During the past thfte years I have been a privileged friend of the prisoners, seeing 'them frequently on Sundays and week-days, having the confidence of several both during their imprisonment and after their discharge. No individual has ever spoken to me one word in disparagement of the institution, of the officers, or of the treatment received, but more than one has mentioned, even with gratitude, the manner in which punishment is administered with kind consideration and the evident desire on the part of all that each ene should leave the prison a better man, but with no desire to return."

Mr. A. L. Beattie, visiting Justice to the gaol, is highly indignant, and wishes to most emphatically deny the truth of the statement. Prom notices posted in "the gaol prisoners all know they may speak to the visiting Justice at any time, yet Mr. Beattie hardly ever receives a complaint, and certainly never a complaint of a serious nature. Mr. Beattie feels that the remarks of Mr. Archer suggest that he, as visiting Justice, is not performing his duty, and naturally strongly resents any such innuendo.