DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2562, 24 July 1909, Page 2

DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED.

r LAND FOR SETTLEMENT 1 AND e PRISON REFORM. c i. ll'kk I’kicss Association.] DUNEDIN, July 23, In the course of an interview; to-cloy. the Hon'. Dr. Findlay said the Govern nient were offering 400 sections of, say, isOO acres, to be opened under the land for settlement improved regulations, e Under these settlers would be paid the d standard wages for bringing the first if <3O acres into profitable occupation, and will get an advance from the State to I assist in building a home. No rent will e be jpaid for the first 15 months. Since t i 906, 1,530,128 acres of Grown lands had been settled. The area at present advertised for settlement was 108,000 0 a.cres, and 9800 acres would be advertised before the end of August. Under the Land for Settlement Act tlie Government had borrowed £5,500,000, with obligations extending over an 'additional £200,000. On the question of prison reform the Minister said steps were being taken to find a really suitable superintendent for the reformatory farm. The Government aimed at the following classification of prisoners—(l) Professional criminals and incorrigible vagrants; (2) habitual drunkards; (3) insane and epdeptic criminals; (4) corrigible criminals; (5) presumptive criminals. The gaols and treatment provided for the first four classes would be different.’ As far as possible, prisoners coming under the first heading would be kept in strong gaols, under strict discipline, with divisions according to good conduct, and provisions for teaching a useful trade or calling. The treatment for habitual drunkards would be medical and industrial. It was difficult to deal with insane and epileptic criminals. Some of thorn might require to be incarcerated all their lives, but in other cases a permanent cure might be effected. Corrigible criminals, who- were chiefly between 16 and 30 years of age, and who were not yet confimed criminals, might be treated in reformatories, which should be both of.an agricultural and industrial character. The proper carrying out of the improved prison system would involve some change in the law, to permit an indeterminate sentence, either absolute or qualified, to be employed in what are now called minor offences. The Minister said the vacancy in the Magistracy caused by the death of Mr. \V Ah James would probably be filled on his return to Wellington, which lie expected to reach on Sunday. _