TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8140, 17 May 1906, Page 7

TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS.

VIEWS OP THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE. CRIME MAY BE LESSENED, BUT NOT STAMPED OUT. , Replying to a deputation' representing the Wellington Council of the Charches, who waited on him to urge the advisability of giving a trial to the system of interminate sentences, the Minister for Justice (the Hon. J. McUowan) said he'had been giving a good deal of attention to the matter, and could say that in oases where the Crown had attempted to ameliorate the condition of the prisoner and reform him they had succeeded. sßy acting cautious* ly, some people might say slowly, he believed they bad bad a greater success with their criminals than even America The conduct of a man in gaol was no. criterion of bis general character; it was a faot that the worst criminals were the bestbehaved men. These were phases of the question which had to be taken into account. To the question of ■ indeterminate sentences he had given serious attention, and he intended to have it submitted to the Govern - ment as a whole,! with a view to seeing whether it might be made the subject of legislation. As to the Wellington prison, it was a fact there had been three men in a large cell, but that was not the case now. It was better to have three men in a call than two. The cells were well-lighted and the dark cells had been done away with. He did not believe in this metftod 'of punishing prisoners. The Rev. Mr Fairclough: "A system of tortur«." I Proceeding, the Minister said he had received a good deal of information on the Elmira reformatory system, and it was not altogether the rosy thing 'it was painted. It was hopeless to imagine they could wipe out criminals. In the Elniira system they were dealing with the evil by commencing at the too of the tree, bat the matter required to be dealt with ac the roots. He believed the time was coming when a sum should be devotedjjto research in criminology. In America an endeavour was being made in this direction. Students should be encouraged to analyse the criminal instinots of a man; inquire into bis antecedents, and generally approach the matter in a scientific manner. Special attention should be given to the praotioes of criminals in the initial stage, and every endeavour made to prevent persons getting an opportunity to exercise their criminality. He intended to bring the matter before the Cabinet, and if they were agreed on a coarse of action he hoped that some measure might be adopted that would result in a better Btate of things. If they oould get at the cause of crime, tiren they oould lessen it, but be did not think that they oould stamp it out.