(X 2)
Questions,
VI.—Es penal labour—that is, labour by trend-mill, crank, or shot-drill-in forre ?
VII.—If so, during what periods of imprisonments, in respect of what classes of prisoners, aul during how many hours, is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour, give, first, the total time on and off at the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of spells and intervals 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. Ou what kind of work they are so employed?
2. How are they supervised ?
3. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gaol, have taken place. during each of the last three years?
4. How are the profits of their labour accounted
for?
X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1926 ?
Answers.
There is no tread-labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, carrying stone and stone breaking are in force,
The hours of labour throughout the year are from 7 a.m. to 4 pan., one hour being allowed for the mid- day meal,
No work is usually performed on Saturday after- noons, Sundays, Xmas Day, Good Friday & Chinese New Year Day. Prisoners at crunk labour, full tusk, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lb. pressure. Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 41⁄2 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stonecarrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.
Tailoring, shoe-making, soap-making, carpentering, huskbeating, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, type casting, printing. book-binding, tinsmithing, washing, eleaning, gardening, and incidental repairs to the Prison buildings.
1. Detached parties are employed on garden work, building or repairs.
2. By armed guards,
3. Nil.
4. Credited to Revenue.
The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1927 wus $493,398.88 of which the sum of $488.05 was refunded for the subsistence of Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &e,, as follows :—
Debtors,
Naval Prisoners, Military Prisoners Marine Prisoners Vagrants....
$432.50
40.00
74.90
20.63
20.00
488.05
XI. What was the amount of the prisoners' earnings during 1927 ?
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?
$154,929.44.
The average time allotted for sleep is about 11 hours in 24.
The cells of the Victoria Gaol are not lighted, but lights are kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the patrols on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required,
At Lai Chi Kok prisoners sleep in association in lighted Halls,
Patrols are on duty in Victoria Gaul throughout the night, and patrol the corridors, passages and yards of the prison constantly. The patrols are visited at frequent intervals by a Principal Warder.
At Lai Chi Kok the patrols are behind a grille through which they supervise the prisoners. They are frequently visited by senior officers,