The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-19 00:00:00

RELIEF TO DISCHARGED PRISONERS.

Lord EBUILY, in bringing forward the subject of affording
aid to prisoners on their discharge from prison, in connection
with the Prisoners' Aid Society, said be should occupy the
attention of the Court for a very short time, as all the magis-
trates he had the honour to address were conversant with
the necessity of giving a prisoner who deserved it some aid
on his discharge from prison to enable him to gain a liveli-
hood by honest labour. A great amount of attention had
been given to this question by the public, and the Legisla-
ture, acting on public opinion, was desirous of doing that
which would best promote the reformation of discharged
criminals. As long as forty years ago an act was passed
which enabled the visiting justices of any gaol or house of
correction to give a moderate sum of money to enable dis-
charged prisoners to obtain permanent employment. That
power was very sparingly exercised, for it was difficult for
them, with the very moderate sum of money placed at their
command, to produce the desired effect. It was therefore
found that the most effective mode of doing good to pri-
soners on their discharge from prison was to place them
under the care of the Prisoners' Aid Society, who would
take charge of them, and watch over them for a few days
until they should be able to obtain employment for them.
The society thus taking charge of the prisoners would receive
the contribation of the county, by which they would be partly
supported, and they would also be partly supported by the
money earned in prison for good conduct by the prisoners
themselves, and by their joint means enable them to earn
an honest livelihood. A few years ago the Legislature
passed an act which allowed a certain number of visiting
justices of any house of correction to grant certain amounts
to the funds of this society, having given their certificate
that the rules of the society met the object they had in view.
The Discharged Prisoners' Aid Sociely was a branch of
the Reformatory and Refuge Union, and it had been taken
up with great success, and the number of names of gentle-
men who were on the management of that society afforded
guarantee that it would be carried on in a satisfactory man-
ner. A sum of money would be granted to each prisoner,
which in no case would exceed £2, and the prisoner who was
to be so aided would be selected by the magistrates them-
selves, but it would be stipulated that the sum of money
should be spent by the society solely for the use of the pri-
soner for whom it was granted. There had been a provision
made for women and juvenile offenders, but nothing had
been done for their adult discharged prisoners. This society
found lodgings for them for a few days, and they were en-
abled to look out for masters and get employment for them.
He concluded by moving that the magistrates of the county
prisons do issue their certificate, adopting the Discharged
Prisoners' Aid Society.
Mr. MARSHALL seconded the motion, and said there had
long been a defect in the prison arrangements as to the dis-
posal of discharged prisoners, there being no regular orga-
nised body to take part in the distribution of any money that
might be collected, and he thought that should be done by
this society under the act .of Parliament. This society was
formed for the relief of those who had fallen into crime from
distress or some unexpected difficulty, and who had respect-
able connexions, giving them shelter and food, and thus pre-
venting them from going back into a criminal career. It
might appear that the sum proposed was too small to do
good, but experience had shown that was not so. In Bir-
mingham and Manchester a much smaller sum had been
the means of doing very much good, the total expenditure
being £517, divided among 407 persons, which averaged £1
ss. 71d. only each person. The county, therefore, would
only contribute the sum spent on each prisoner, and by
which a great amount of good would be done. lie hoped
that the Prisoners' Aid Society would commend itself t' the

-
good opinion of the magistrates of the county, as it was
intended only to select such cases as wore promising, and
not those who were deep seated in clime, as they would go
on in regular course with penal servitude and so on, and
their only object was to enable the really promising man to
obtain an honest living after his discharge.
Mr. KEMSHEAD did not like to agree to the proposition
without knowing what expense it would lead to, and he
thought it ought to be referred to the visiting justices of
Coldbath-fields for consideration.
Mr. N. LAURIE did not think if delay was occasioned
by reference to the visiting justices, that it would lead to
any satisfactory results, for the visiting justices could
give them no information. They would be unable to tell
how many eligible subjects there might be in the prison
from time to time. The question was, not how many
prisoners ware willing to reform, but how many society
would allow to reform ; for on the discharge of a prisoner
every head and face was averted from him but that head
and face that it was desirable he should avoid ; and ho be-
lieved not five of the gentlemen he had the honour to ad-
dress would take a discharged criminal into their service,
and if they did, their other servants would not associate
with him. This society then came to their aid, and would
find channels of employment for them. There would be
another advantage in the motion being carried, for it would
diminish the necessity of giving so many " stars" (re-
wards) in the House of Correction, which the governor of
that prison would tell them was an unmixed evil. He was
delighted at this proposition, the effects of which they
could hardly estimate, believing that one-fourth of this £2
would set many of these people on their legs to get their
tools out of pledge and start afresh in the world, and there-
fore he thought the Court ought to meet this proposition
with feelings of hope for the future.
The motion was put and carried unanimously.l
The rest of the business was disposed of, and the Court
adjourned.

RAILWAY INTEL LICENCE,

ISLE OF WIGHT.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes.
terday at the offices, Great Gene-street, Westminster, Mr.
F. 11. Atherley in the chair.
The report stated that, with the exception of one property
between Shanklin and Ventnor, the contractor was in pos-
session of all the land necessary for the line and stations, and
the works had so progressed during the past 6 months as
to entitle the line to be opened to Shanklin in May next.
The stations at Ryde, Brading, Landown, and Shanklin had
been commenced, and arrangements had been made for the
purchase and delivery, in May next, of the necessary stook
for the working of that portion of the lino which the direc-
tors confidently hoped would then be opened. In anticipa-
tion of the opening, the directors had thought it right to
invite the co-operation of the existing steamboat companies
running from Southsea and Stokes Bay Piers, to secure, in
connection with the railway, an improved and more rapid
through communication between the Undercliff and London,
and it was hoped that such arrangements would be made as
to render it unnecessary to seek other means of acoomplish-
ing an object so necessary to the fair" development of the
undertaking. The statement of accounts showed that
£98,276 had been expended with the exception of £554.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the shareholders on the progress that had
been made with the works, as now there was every proba-
bility of the early opening of the line. It was hoped that
by an understanding with the South-Western Railway
Company greater facilities than at present existed would be
given to passenger traffic from and to the metropolis.
Capt. 1111Ifili seconded the motion, and said that there
was every reason for believing the railway would be opened
in May next. If the South-Western gave improved trains
a journey which at present occupied 6 how s and three-
quarters would be accomplished in 3 hours and three-
quarters.
The report was then adopted.
The retiring directors, Captain Midi and Mr. George
Young, were re-elected, as was the retiring auditor, Mr. C.
L. Christian.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors concluded
the proceedings.