RIOTING AT DARTMOOR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 48, 27 January 1932, Page 6

RIOTING AT DARTMOOR.

Had the story, of the rioting at Dartmoor prison, culminating in the warders and police reinforcements firing on the mutinous convicts, emanated from an American State, it would have passed with scarcely any notice. The prison history of the United States is notorious for such incidents, involving loss of life among both convicts and warders. Last year there was a desperate encounter between prisoners and their guards at the Illinois State Prison, in which damage by fire amounted to 300,000 dollars and lives were sacrificed before order was restored. ‘But that such incidents as were recorded on Sunday should have taken place at famous Dartmoor, whither long term criminals are sent, plainly, brings a feeling of dismay, because in Great Britain there has been enlightened direction and management of prisons - in this century. Colonel Roberts, the Governor of Dartmoor, is stated in the cable news to be noted among prison governors for his “advanced views” on prison treatment, and has earned the title of the most humane governor in the service. There has been abundant recognition of the fact that prisons should be educational institutions to a large degree, and conditions offending the susceptibilities .of prison reformers have been ameliorated. Separate confinement, the former Home Secretary, Mr J. R. dynes; stated a year ago, had been abolished. This had' been an important element in penal administration of the last century, but had gradually been whittled down to a fortnight’s cellular work for men sentenced to hard labour. To-day prisoners are employed in association from the time their sentence commences. Whatever the exact cause of the Dartmoor rioting, it is palpably evident that there has been seripus discontent among the convicts, and the plot to revolt was deep laid. Incidents on January 19 and 23, when a prisoner attempted to escape and others attacked their warders, were an intimation _of the more serious trouble which developed on Sunday. Only the precautionary measures taken and the speedy arrival qf 1 police reinforcements averted the escape of convicts over the countryside. That the police were called upon to fire reveals the temper of the mutineers. The conflict had two bright patches, one prisoner gallantly saving the life of a warder, and another preventing harm to Commissioner Turner who was investigating the complaints. _ The bleak and miserable conditions at Dartmoor are assigned by a former convict as the. reason for the outrage. The prison has an historical association with the French Wars of the early part of the 19th century. It was built in 1809 to house French prisoners and in 1855 was adapted to its present use. The moor is wild and rugged, but beautiful in parts, and abounds in historical relics of a past age merging into the mists of antiquity. But as the site of a prison it has filled many a convict with dread and has led to unfulfilled, but at times fulfilled desires to escape, though success is not easy of attainment.