Reform must trump retribution, says minister

It is satisfactory to find the Minister of Justice steadily bending his energies towards the accomplishment of a comprehensive scheme of prison reform in New Zealand.

Since he delivered a stimulating address a year ago in this city on the subject at the invitation of the Dunedin Prisons and Industrial Schools Reform Society, Dr Findlay has evidently brought his scheme very much nearer to maturity.

It now provides, we are told, for penitentiaries for male prisoners, an institution for sexual perverts and criminals of unsound mind, an institution for incorrigible drunkards, prison camps, farm reformatories, and a reformatory for women.

All prisoners physically capable, moreover, are to be employed at remunerative work, and, perhaps most important of all, the introduction of a definite system for their classification is contemplated.

The all-important element which, as every thinking community recognises, must be introduced into its prison system is the element of reformation.

No prison system can be considered effective which merely punishes.

The dominant spirit of the law and of the nation towards the criminal was once-and not so long since-to exact a penalty from him but not to attempt to reform him.

A more enlightened generation has realised, however, that such is a wasteful and discreditable design, and that the duty of society lies in seeing, to the best of its power, that the criminal leaves gaol a better man than he entered it, instead of, as is too often the case, especially among young offenders, being a worse one.

As long as the greater proportion of crimes is still committed by those who have already been subject to prison punishment, the system which promotes such results must be considered non-effective.

• At the usual monthly meeting of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, a letter of heart-felt gratitude was received for a reconciliation between man and wife which the secretary had effected.

The report - a lengthy one - brought the cases for the year to 150.

Amongst the cases dealt with during the past month were: Three of illegitimacy, and the feeling of the society is that this state of things is growing worse; ill-usage of wives (these cases require further watching); several cases of difficulties in home life (in most cases satisfactorily settled).

The society decided to recommend to the newly-elected Charitable Aid Board the appointment of Dr E.

Siedeberg and Mrs Gordon as lady members of the Advisory Committee to work on the Benevolent Board and render aid to needy cases.