that these cases had been most successful. This society only deals with penal servitude cases. There are a large number of aid societies through the provinces which deal with shorter term criminals.
Our Prisons' Board in their reports to the Lord-Lieutenant of the last three years have earnestly expressed regret at the scant advantage taken in Ireland of the provisions in the Irish Prisons' Act, 1877, for the establishment of Prisoners' Aid Societies. By the 44th and 45th sections the Board are empowered to pay to the treasurer of a Certified Prisoners' Aid Society £2 in respect of any prisoner for whose benefit the society undertakes to apply it: in the case of convicts on licence it is open to the board to pay the gratuities, which average some £6 10s. to the society as in London.
In the case of rural prisoners, £2 may generally suffice to cover the time and expense requisite for securing re-employment, but it is wholly inadequate for the object now under discussion—the emigration of urban prisoners.
In the last year's volume of Criminal Statistics, our friend Dr. Hancock says:—
"The success of state assistance to the deaf and dumb and blind in developing the institutions of Cabra and Merrion, and in the case of Industrial Schools and reformatories points to the importance of increased assistance in Ireland to Prisoners' Aid Societies."
I think this strikes the true keynote. If this great state service of which we treat is to be carried out through non-official agencies, it is certainly just, and it is most certainly essential to their success that they should be amply supported by public funds. Voluntary benevolence should contribute; but in the present social and financial condition of Ireland very large voluntary subscriptions cannot be hoped for.
In conclusion I would earnestly join our Prisons' Board in urging the formation of a Prisoners' Aid Society in Dublin; but it should be upon a broad and high basis. It should be started under the auspices of the Lord-Lieutenant and Chief Secretary, and its presidents and vice-presidents should include the Judges of the High Court and the members of the Prisons' Board: whilst its executive committee, acting under official sanction and check, should be in direct communication with the prison and government authorities, in some such way as the Industrial Schools are now.
It is with unaffected diffidence I offer this contribution to the discussion of a great social difficulty, fearing it may be presumptuous thus to step outside my own métier into departments administered by so many abler and more experienced than myself; but these are themselves foremost to recognize existing evils as transcending the existing means of dealing with them—evils which in this city present malignant forms which compel me to think and to speak of them, even if it be in vain. If it be in vain, this is my apology; whilst if there be any value in aught I have said, it is insignificant beside the organizing skill essential to realize it, which must be the work of those departments with whom I could only so far dare to be a fellow-worker.
