him purely general supervision of the Prison, and So 9-35′′
give to the Asst Supt the particular supervision with which the Superintendent was formally entrusted. Section 32 gives new powers to the Asst Supt which were not formerly possessed by the Supt, in the use of the Strait Jacket for the restraint of a violent prisoner!
I notice (see the Rule 86 Court Prisons 1892 Local Prisons) that strait Jackets are not used in England. I am not however as certain that they are as barbarous a punishment as they seem. I have no ... art ... cally to say. I am not convinced that they are barbarous. I won’t say that they are for believing that they are.
The old Rule 16 as to delegation of the powers of a visiting magistrate is omitted.
As to what arrangements it is proposed to make in case of the illness or absence of the matron.
Rule 99: The latter part requires three months notice of resignation on forfeiture of three months pay. This is aimed at preventing frequent changes in Staff, which have been ... like the abolition of Unproductive Labour. Rule 252 is an innovation in giving to the Superintendent the decision as to the form of hard labour for each prisoner after the separate Confinement is over. This is rather a wide discretion to give, it appears to me unreasonable. But if prudently exercised it may be good.
Rule 287 (2) makes the minimum time to be spent in each of the first three Classes 6 months for the probation Class but a year for each of the next two Classes.
I see no advantage in the old Rule no 306, its omission is a good thing.
Rule 287: The first seventeen offences are taken from the Local Prison Rules. Though they greatly amplify the old list, most of them can I think be taken exception to, especially as they are not punishable with flogging.
An officer resigning his appointment with short notice has caused inconvenience; but I am inclined to think one month's notice can reasonably be required.
Rules 207, 210 deal with juvenile offenders & are practically new. They appear to me quite in harmony with the spirit of the Home Prison Rules in regard to Juvenile Offenders, 258-274 of those Rules.
N.B Juvenile offenders 2-14 are classified according as they have or have not been previously convicted under Rule 249.
Rule 219 appears to me unnecessary having regard to Rule 108 (4). So does Rule 220 having regard to Rule 165. Rules 243 & 284 Secs are new: but the punishment of depriving a prisoner of his mattress is allowed by the English Prison Rules & we need not therefore object to it.
Rule 251: Picking oakum is I understand the same as Stone breaking (see old Rule 285). In this country the amount of unproductive hard labour required of Prisoners has been greatly reduced lately. The Governor (see his notes on the Rules) is fully alive to this & is doing his best to keep pace with modern sentiments in this matter. Unfortunately the accommodation at the prison does not admit of anything being done.
3 & 4 (x)--12435-2000-1-99 18195-2000-4-99
It is rather doubtful whether it is fair in the case of an Offence whether late or repeated, to force medicines down the throats of Chinese Convicts. Their dislike of Western Medicine is notorious. Ought we not at least to raise this point?
Rules 290, 291, 293 & 294.
In regard to the provisions as to Corporal punishment, it will be remembered that as the result of gross abuse of the powers of flogging the exceptionally lenient Rules in regard to flogging were insisted on in our Despatch No 19178. They included abolition of the "cat", the Kattens being exclusively substituted in its stead. The maximum number of floggings ordered was reduced in the case of a Superintendent to 25, and where a Visiting Justice had awarded it, to a maximum of twenty.
This regime was introduced by the Rules in 10341/97, & it tended ...