(X 8)
Questions.
VI. Is penal labour-that is, labour by troad-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 penal Inbour 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 rest.
VIII. What kind of labour, other than penal labour, ie in uso?
IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gaol, slate-
1. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gnol, have takon place during ench of the last three years?
2. How are the profits of their labour recounted
for?
Answers.
There is no trend-mill labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, and stone-carrying are in force,
The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st October from 6.15 a.m. to 4.16 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 crank labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lbs. pressure. European and Chineso prisoners at sbot-drill do 4) hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stove- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.
Tailoring, shoe-making, carpentering, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, net making, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, and incidental repairs to the Prison buildings,
Prisoners have not been employed outside tho Grol during the year.
X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1908 7
The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1908 was $94,772.33, of which the sum of $2.845.82 was refunded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-
Military,
Naval,
$ 72.90
197.40
Debtors,.
808.25
Vagrants,
77.70
Wei-ni-wei Prisoners,....................................
648.90
Shanghai Prisoners,
709.90
Waste fond sold,
130.80
Personal Emoluments refunded,
6.70
Other Charges rofunded,
27.20
Forfeitures,
166.07
$2,845.82
XI. What was the annual amount of the prisonera' earnings during 1908 7
XII. What is the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormi- tories lighted; and how often are they patrolled during the night?
'The total amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of Prison Industrial Labour was $5,012.57, of which $103.10 was for 1907, and $4,909.47 for 1908.
The average time during which the prisoners sleep is about 11 hours in 24.
The ceils of the Victoria Gaol are not lighted, but gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Assistant Warders on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required.
Assistant Warders are on duty in the Gaol through- out the night, and patrol the corridors and passages constantly. The patrols are visited every hour by Principal Warder. The Assistant Superintendent makes one surprise visit each week after 9 p.m.