NEW ZEALAND'S PRISONERS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 770, 23 April 1954, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S PRISONERS

Sir,-Congratulations on your timely editorial "Behind Locked Doors," and the Short Survey of the Dominion’s Penal System. To be effective the system must extend beyond officialdom (enlightened though that certainly now is) to link the prisoner to men of goodwill "outside." In this belief the members of a recently re-organised Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society of the Wellington Province have made some progress on the following lines:1. To visit selected prisoners offering simple friendship, understanding and willingness to help. 2. To find suitable employment for these and other prisoners on their discharge (or release on remission), together with clothing = small monetary aid where this is advisable. 3. To provide understanding and _ assistance for wives and dependents where genuine needs are disclosed. 4. To encourage the formation’ of similar groups in other cities and towns-leading to a New Zealand-wide fully effective organisation. Like most social ills recidivism can only be reduced if an informed public sincerely wants it reduced. On the lowest level it is uneconomic to keep men in prison-on the highest level the individual owes it to society to make a practical effort towards the return to proper citizenship of his less fortunate fellow man. : The society’s work is done the full knowledge and co-operation of the Justice Department. The support of

churches (Roman Catholic and Protestant already well represented), social, welfare and kindred organisations as well as individual members is earnestly sought. The executive makes no apology for seeking this excellent free advertis-ing-we merely ask WILL YOU HELP where officialdom leaves off?

N. J.

COOPER

Acting Secretary,

8 Punjab St., Wellington, N.4.

Sir,-One day last week some friends and I were discussing Christianity in general, and someone said that, as a nation, we had not progressed very far. Your illuminating article in the current issue is an answer to that. I thing the general idea of prison life is one of locked cells and very plain fare, with little or no communication with the outside world. That, undoubtedly, is what it was not so many years ago. What a difference to the actual life in prison today! Good food, suitable and constructive work, and above all, understanding treatment of each man or woman as an individual-surely all part of Christ’s command to love God and our neighbours, and bringing us a little nearer to God’s Kingdom on earth. Please accept my thanks for your fine and inspiring article.

J.

McK.

(Dunedin).