(X3)
Questions.
VI. Is ponal labour-that is labour by tread-mill, crank, or shot-drill-in force?
VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours is such ponal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour give-first, the total time on and off the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of spells and interval of rost,
VIII. What kind of labour, other than ponal labour, is in uso?
IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gaol, state—
1. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years?
2. How are the profits of their labour accounted
for?
Answers.
There is no tread-mili labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, stone-carrying and oakum-picking are in force.
The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st October from 6.15 to 4.15 p.m., and from the 1st November to the 28th February from 6.45 a.m. to 4.15 P.M., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crauk labour, full task, have to completo 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lbs. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 41⁄2 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.
Tailoring, shoo-making, carpentering, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, not making, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, and incidental repairs to the Gaol buildings.
Prisoners have not been employed outside the Gaol during the year.
X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1896?
The total expenditure of the Gnol in 1896 was $62,774.17, of which the sum of $2,337.85 wus rofunded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-
Military, Naval,
$511.60
712.75
Debtors,..
438.25
Waste food sold,
54.00
Personal Emoluments refunded,.
G3.07
Forfeitures,
142.33
Other Charges refunded,
20.00
Miscellaneous Receipts,.
325.72
Fumily maintenance refunded to Crown Agents by Warder Thos. Warren,
70.13
$2,837.85
XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' carnings during 1896?
XII. What is the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormi- tories lighted; and how ofton are they patrolled during the night?
The total amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of Prison Industrial Labour was $5,513.42, of which $101.74 was for 1895, and $5,411.68 for 1896.
The average timo during which the prisonors sloop is about 11 hours in 24.
The dormitories are not lighted; int Gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Warders on duty are provided with bull's-eye lanterns to throw light into the dormitories when required.
Warders are on duty in the Gaol throughont tho night, and patrol the corridors and pussages constantly.