T h e Howard Jozomd The Cancellor Ailemlorial Fund

S O that each nation, instead of working out every problem for itself, could have the benefit of the proved experiments of other countries.

The International Prison Commission, excellent as is its work, has not sufficient scope or machinery to supply this need. Where better could it be supplied than at Geneva through the already existing medium of the League of Nations ?

HOW often things are bad because the better system has not been thought out, through lack of energy or of opportunity. How often things improve simply because the opportunity for improvement arises. Would not this Geneva “ clearing-house ” be a constant source of inspiration for better conditions, and are we not right in pinning our faith to this possible solution of many of the anomalies and inconsistencies which at present mar even the most enlightened penal systems of the world? It is well to remember that the threatening of weak-minded prisoners with punishment in a so-called “haunted ” cell did not happen in some uncivilised country, but in one which has been a pioneer in many branches of penal reform. It is almost inconceivable that such things should be tolerated, but the fact that they are, is a very strong incentive to the penal reformer’s, of all nations to make a concerted effort to bring them to an end.

THE CANCELLOR MEMORIAL FUND. The late Mr. H. L. Cancellor, who sat for some years as magistrate

at Marlborough Street Police Court, was a firm believer in the reform of young offenders. To him was almost entirely due the foundation 0°F the Boys’ Garden Colony at Basingstoke, through which have passed in the last ten or eleven years some hundreds of lads who might easily ha te drifted into a life of crime. Most of the lads are on probation for a first offence, chiefly of dishonesty. Their ages on entry vary from about fifteen to eighteen. The Colony is managed by a Committee consisting of magis- trates, clerks, probation officers and representatives of the London Police Court Mission. Save for the salaries of a small st& at the home, expenses of management are negligible. The lads live in a pleasant house with a good garden on the outskirts of Basingstoke, and most of them hme reguhr work in nursery gardens in the town. Of E1,6oo or A1,700 required’ annually to maintain the Colony, some A900 or EI,OOO are derived from the wages of the lads, but A600 or A700 have to be raised in subscriptions and donations.

Mr. Cancellor was an indefatigable worker for the home and, as treasurer, made himself responsible for raising the necessary income. His colleague, Mr. M. J. H. Brodrick, magistrate at the South-Western Police Court, has agreed to succeed him as treasurer, and the work Mr. Cancellor so much loved will go on.

Mrs. Cancellor and Mr. Cancellor’s many friends are sure thar tWe memorial most pleasing to Mr. Cancellor would be the creation of suck a reserve fund as would put the Colony on a sound financial basis an& relieve the treasurer of some portion of his burden. A Cancellor Memoria) Fund has therefore been opened, to which we now invite all our readers to subscribe.

Court, London, W.C. Donations may be sent to Mr. A. C. L. Morrison, Bow Street

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