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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 23. 23rd September 1973

Prisoner

Prisoner

c/o T. Newnham

Editor Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd Queen Street Auckland 1

To the Editor,

Salient.

I have just received from my publishers a copy of the reviews of my book "Prisoner". I feel that the first, by a current inmate at Wi Tako deserves comment.

He refers to the 'limitations' of the book. In fairness to him I feel I should make the following points:
(1)I wrote the book partly while at Wi Tako and finished it when I was released.
(2)I then had to hold on to it for 12 months while on probation so that I was out of the hands of the Justice Department.
(3)I had to get permission of all the people I wrote about to put their cases in my book; most wanted me to write the book but very few wanted to be, understandably, included.
(4)I had to make as sure as I could that nothing that was written would worsen the situation of the prisoners I left behind.
(5)I then had to find a publisher who would publish such a book.
(6)Publication from the moment of acceptance to release date can be anything from 15 to 24 months. Whitcombes by-passed many of the usual procedures and managed it in 13 months.
(7)Case histories, as such, were just not possible.
(8)I used verse to try to convey feelings I found impossible to convey in prose. Whether or not I succeeded I don't know.
(9)After my first month a Wi Tako I was not classed as a 'kid-fucker" by any of the inmates so the question of 'luck' did not arise. Kangaroo Courts were held while I was there and I found that any 'kid-fucker' who was victim of any assault invariably brought it upon himself.
(10)I did not and would not advocate the increase in the salaries of screws. I feel they are well overpaid as it is for what they 'do'. What I did advocate was the turning of the prisons into psychiatric centres and upgrading the salaries of psychiatrists, psychologists and psychiatric nurses who would run the institutions.

Finally I did warn about work parole. It seems heaven when you haven't got it, but after the first couple of months you'll find it the hardest time you'll spend in prison. The only way it seems to work is in the 'open hostel' system as in Auckland.

Regarding the "review" by Don Franks. It seems that his only concern is that I have offended dear old Mother Russia! And, by the way, who mentioned 'little boys'! Tut! Tut! Mr Franks; guilt complex? Or perhaps I'm 'dabbling' again in psychology!

John Justin

Auckland