DURANCE VILE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17986, 3 April 1930, Page 9

DURANCE VILE.

(To fee Editor.) Sir, —Although Dr. Gribben was moved to enlighten the Rotary Club concerning our prison system, it appears feat he is not prepared to enter into a public discussion concerning the merits of his case. Had Dr. Gribhen answered my questions 1 think the following propositions would have emerged as the truth:—(l) The number of cases considered by the board in relation to the time spent by the board precludes personal investigation, (2) the Prisons Board in fact acts only on evidence submitted by the Department; (3) the only evidence available is that of the warder, who > speaks through the Controller-General; (4) other information as to work available 'on release and supervision promised is supplied in some cases; (5) there is no psychiatrist in the service of the Department. Now as to opinions: Dr. Gribhen thinks the Prisons Board a blessing, in mv opinion it is a curse. It destroys in the prison itself fee belief that’ justice —even-handed justice—is being done. Every special remission is looked upon as an example of “influence.” If, for example, I inform the board that on release I shall find work and a home for a prisoner, the other fellow, who is, be it remembered, in the majority, says, “What about the poor devil who has no friends?" And he is right. The rich man can provide a home and supervision for his son; the poor man cannot. The psychological results, and this Dr. Gribben will appreciate, are disastrous in another way. When a prisoner has the hope of release. on fee report of the warder his attitude tends to become “accommodating.” Dr. Gribben will know exactly how this attitudeGs described behind the bars. No doubt this is'good for discipline if discipline is merely suppression. My conclusion on all the facts is this —that a prisoner had better take his sentence, face it, and serve it rather than have it tinkered with by a board which acts on evidence which affords no real protection to the public nor justice to the type of prisoner best suited for release. Dr. Gribben apparently believes in reformative detention. He refrained from telling the Rotary Club that there is no such thing in New Zealand —except in name. I think Dr. Gribben will agree with me that it ought to be possible to find evidence which might give real help to the Prisons Board and be a protection to fee public—namely, the evidence of a psychological clinic.—l am, etc., F. A. de la MARE. Hamilton, March 31.