The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. 1888. How to get rid of Criminals.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2993, 3 September 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. 1888. How to get rid of Criminals.

In tho crituitial law of the Htnto of Ohio somo interesting experiments

are now being tried and are almost worthy the attention of the legislators of the Colony of New Zealand, which, by tl)e way, is not much inoro than a tenth of the importance of that Great West State as regards population, and resources, In Ohio there is a parole Iw vhjch |s somewhat similar to our First Ofl'onderß 4-ct, which is working well, but the sjiojiitlity of its criminal code lies in two measures of# peculiar kind, one is a general sentence ].w passed in 1881 under which the duration of a prisoners Bcntence is determined by his conduct. There is no jjpd timo at which a prisoner can depend upon tpjoase, his fitness to be at large being tho by which unlocks his prison door. Tho other Aot to which we rofer is called tho Habitual Crimes Act. ' Under this measure the habitual criminal issontenced for the term oi his natural life. These two Juwrf, in conjunction with the Parole Act, |i)jin tho prisons. Evil doors travel to nejg!)b,orjng States .where the laws aio a little morp iff farer of tho criminal and atjainst Society, A thief who has been twice oouvioted: (Joes not stay in Ohio to carry on his pfofflwioil j he knows that his next incarceration in tlijjt State will be for life and he travels straight D}jt of it. Theso laws are said to be highly suejftyl'pl and,might be tried in ,th)s Colony with ndvantagj. What an, exodus ther.e would Jje to Melbourne And Sydney of our jiahltual criminals t|)ey ivoko up some fin.o morning to leari) t)ial tj|o px'erpise of tliejr nefarious talents jpeaflt'peiiul servitude for life, In a few weeks Hpie (fro Colony would ha. clear of Hot, p) our. notable detectives would b.o relegated to some more useful, eaonptitiop"than' playing blind man's buff with our local accumulations of ruffianism.

f f ( K election' of Mr ]l Lotfes as Prpsjdenjt flf Jjia Masterton Agriouland Pastoral Association takes us somewhat by surprise, bjways.ejt jyas within our knowledge that ho had absolutely rejfiiacd an jiroviously wil« to Jj.im to c<po forward. There waa'an yeasoif why he should Lave, hesitated tp aqsapt the pivcij It, apo lijuy filjsiitno that Jl9 did SO touso be felt that. fao wJ|aro qf tlio faumtion m a. piyaflounf; constderalion sp4 acceptajice of office would promote it, TJIO measure of suppoifc given to Mf. Ufflt Stuckoy was to usextreniely gratifying, ail Wting as-lie ,• did »«n ; .unpopular policy, lint ope which m our opinion wgnltl Ijavf Iwii.Me

of the Association. Opinions, howovei, diilerfoh tins point r buiv'eveu -iliobo who bold tho oppoaito |iow jrill credit, Mnißtuckey. for tl,io«honestyfc;afld consistency with which;.' ho foifeitcd his eleoooD rrttlierVtlian yaocept.r.a platform Vliieli lio thought to be ft wrong one. Tho Association will derive a decided udvantugo from the business experience and capacity of its new President,-and;uow-,. that the work of reconstruction is complete, we trust one and all, however much .they have differed over recent' elections, will"give a cordirtl 'BUjipbVt tO" the officers'elected by the will ot the majority. Although tho uniou which •we', hoped to see inomoted by the recent changes is still remote, we freely admit that the Association is in a stronger position than it was prior to their being brought about, and Mr Lowes is quite capable of undertaking tho delicate task ot reconciling the conflicting elements of the Association if he should decide to do so.