44.
and what, for brevity's sake, I will call the vagrants, i.e., all those wlio go to gaol under short sentences for petty offences.
With regard to the females, I beg to repeat what I said in my last Report. Whether they should remain in the Royal Gaol or elsewhero is a question of detail I need not now enter upon, but wherever they are to be, the regime necessary for them is, strict silence, complete isolation, the hardest work they can perform, and, above all that they should never see tho outside of the gaol until the expiration of their sentence.
Whilst dealing with this part of my Report, I think it my duty to state that, although very great improvements have been introduced by the Superintendent since last year, and a little more may yet be done in the way of maintaining rigid seclusion and silence, I fear that when we shall have reached the utmost limit of punishment which can be inflicted upon females we shall find that no diminution in numbers will result.
Mere punishment will not avail with these unfortunate creatures; the higher influences of religion, and strict discipline tempered with kindness, are needed to make them remember that which they have long forgotten-what in some cases I fear they have never even learned.
I believe the present Matron at the Gaol to be a steady, trustworthy person, but she certainly cannot do more than attend to carrying out the discipline of the Gaol, and is quite unfitted, both by position and education, to undertake anything like a work of reformation.
I venture to think that the clergy of all denominations would find amongst the female convicts ample material for their most strenuous exertions.
I am aware that the question of the Reformatory Schools is now under the serious consideration of the Executive, and I will therefore proceed at once to make my suggestions with regard to the treatment of the vagrant class.
These offenders should be dealt with at the Royal Gaol, and be kept to the very hardest description of labour, and the most rigorous diet and general treatment, con- sistent with humanity.
Of their reform there is but little hope, but a wholesome dread of severe discipline may possibly have a deterrent effect upon them.
A change in onr present law will, however, be necessary to bring this class of offenders more effectually within its grasp, and I have ventured, in a letter to the Colonial Secretary of this day's date, to propose such an Ordinance as I think would have that effect.
It will be noticed that in that Ordinance I have made special provision for the punishment of any offenders who, when convicted of any offence bringing them within its scope, shall be proved to belong to any of the bands which, under different, infest the Colony, and are very fruitful sources of immorality and crime.
I think this would be practically easier, and certainly lead to better results, than to make the existence of these bands illegal, which might give them importance. It would also be difficult to frame a law rendering those societies illegal which would not interfere with the very different associations of the Good Templars, the Foresters, &c.
It may at first appear hard to extend the stringent provisions of the Habitual Criminal Ordinance to persons convicted summarily, but it must be borne in mind that, if we wish to strike at the root of the evil, we must attack the offences which are of daily and hourly occurrence, and which rarely, if ever, come before the Supreme Court.
Convict Depots.
The two depôts at Chaguanas and Carrera's Island have been kept open during the year, and the amount of work of a severely penal nature performed at the two places has been very satisfactory, as the aunexed Return K shows:-
45
Health, Sickness, and Death.
The Report of the Medical Officer (L) is attached, and gives full information on these points.
I see no reason to alter the opinion I expressed last year that the hospital is neither well situated nor suited in itself for its own wants.
Concluding Remarks.
The Report has already reached to a far greater length than I had originally intended, but the gravity of the subject treated of, and its close bearing on the future (of the Colony, will, I trust, be my excuse, if any be needed from one holding the position I occupy, and deeply interested as I am, in using every effort to check the rapidly increasing crime of the Colony.
LIONEL M. FRASER,
Inspector of Prisons.
(Signed)
Inspector of Prisons' Office, May 13, 1875.
(Table A.)—RETURN of Prisoners committed to Royal Gaol.
Classification.
Felons and misdemeanants Debtors
In 1873.
In 1874.
Males.
Females.
Males.
Females.
2,239
128
265 17
2,817
513
38
4
2,367
282
2,855
522
2,649
3,377
AGES of Prisoners committed in 1873 and 1874.
1873,
1874.
1873.
1874.
From 5 to 10 years
4
5
From 45 to 50 years
112
193
10 to 15
47
77
50 to 55
19
48
*
**
14
15 to 18
103
211
55 to 60
27
59
"
"
18 to 20
149
294
60 to 65
5
B
11
11
1
20 to 25
486
646
65 to 70
of
10
$1
"
"
25 to 30
782
733
70 to 75
1
3
13
30 to 35
19
370
408
75 to 80
2
5
"
"0
35 to 40
431
510
3
40 to 45
107
167
Totals
2,649
3 377
Chaguanas
Carrern's Island:
£ J.
d.
1,455 18 0
558 4
0
But I feel again obliged to draw attention to the fact that nothing, or next to nothing, is done at either of these depôts to reform or educate the convicts.
(404)
N
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
I, I b k kh
Reference -
O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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