HON. J. A. HANAN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10630, 8 May 1912, Page 4

HON. J. A. HANAN

INTERVIEWED AT CHRISTCHURCH. (•By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCRURCH, Last Night. IVr an interview to-day, the Hon. J. A..,Hanan,. Minister for Justice, said th' at the apptfSPtment •of Inspector Cullen to fill the position of the Commissioner of Po&ce, seemed to have mot with general'approval. In all probability, Yrs'pector Mitchell, of Duncdir. \.oi;ld be appointed Inspector atAiutkland, as an> '■appointment to the | vacant Inspectorship had not yet beea I made; Speaking of prison; reform, the Minister said .that the question ' wa& being considered.,. Some changes would be* mode* to. bring about the , better classification of prisoners, to secure. a> higher standard of efficiency and thfr belter rcTmmistration of prisons. He> expertcd' to be able to make an announeemect concerning the matter later on. There was need in face of What 'had taken • -place .recently atLyttelton gaol, that prison discipline should be> stiffened up. While he was quite in accord with the idea that prisoners; shoutld 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 mtmiuer of ilio prisoners possibly were influenced by the very free publicdiscussion of the question of prison .reform, and h'ad'evidently constructed itto* 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- h'e> hoped to be able to do something in: that direction.in the near'fuure.