In my judgment one of the most effective has yet to be tried in the Colony--the system of indeterminate sentences.

Nothing can be more futile than the present method of criminal procedure.

After a certain stated period in gaol, we allow Criminals--even of the most dangerous character--to go out free without making the slightest effort to secure that they are fit to be returned to society.

We quarantine the plague-stricken or small-pox ship, and keep the passengers isolated till the disease is eradicated.

But we send up the Criminal only for a definite time, and at the end of that, he is allowed to go at large even though we may know he is a more dangerous character than when he entered the gaol.