(X3)
Questions,
VI. Is penal labour—that is, labour by tread-mill, ornuk, or shot-drill—in force?
VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of whint classes of prisoners, and during how many hours is such penal -labour enforced? In stating hours of trend-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, is in use?
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 accountal
for?
Answers.
There is no tread-mill labour, but shot-drill, erauk- 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 4.15 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 crank labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lb. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 4 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- 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 the Gaol during the year.
X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison -Juring the year 1909 †
The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1909 was $97,926.80, of which the sum of $3,017.03 was refunde for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &e, as follows ;-
Military, Naval,
$ 30.90
142.80
Debtors,
514.25
Prisoners sentenced by the Marine
Magistrate,
533.70
Wei-bai-wei Prisoners,
700.80
Shangbai Prisoners,
485.40
Waste food sold,
68.40
Personal Emoluments refunded,
330.73
Other Charges refunded,
147.50
Forfeitures,
62.55
$3,017.03
XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners earnings during 1909?
XII. What is the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in associatiou, 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 $4,809.78, of which $213,70 was for 1908, and $4,596.08 for 1909.
The average time during which the prisoners sleep is abont 11 hours in 24.
The colls of the Victoria Gnol are not lighted, but gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, aul 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 a Principal Warder. The Assistant Superintendent makes one surprise visit each week after 8 p.m.