CARE OF AGED PRISONERS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1926, Page 11

CARE OF AGED PRISONERS

DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT ENTRANCE SOUGHT TO INFIRMARY HOSPITAL BOARD’S PROTEST. Bv Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Objection to the application by the Controller-General of Prisons for the board's consent to the admission to the Auckland infirmary of two prisoners, one aged 80 and the other 71, was voiced by the Hospital Board to-night. The board had previously declined to admit the elder prisoner, who was said to be in prison for a sexual offence. The renewed application was made on humanitarian grounds, as the prisoner was said to have reached a state of senility, although he was not bad enough for a mental institution, to which endeavours had been made to send him. The other prisoner was at present in prison at Wanganui. He was due for release shortly, and it was suggested that the infirmary authorities might care for him in the ev.ening of his days. Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the board, moved that the board adhere to its previous decision and decline to accede to the requests. The infirmary was not a place for criminals. It was the duty of the Government to care for accil and infirm prisoners,’ and it must not be allowed to foist them on to the ratepayers of Auckland. He was quite sure, too, that the other old people in the home would resent the admission there of men from prisons. The motion was carried.