CO885(2-3) — Page 700

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TTC.O.885

262

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Papers laid before the Legislative Council by command of his Excellency the Governor. November 15, 1872.

Report of the Sub-Committee on Prison Improvements.

The Sub-Committee appointed to consider the scheme of Prison Improvements con- tained in the Papers laid before Council by command of his Excellency the Governor, on the 15th and 16th October, 1872, having met and examined the plans laid before them by the Acting Colonial Engineer, beg to report as follows

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1. The first question which arises in each case regards the extent of the accommodation proposed, which is based on the Report of the former Special Committee on this question. As regards Penang and Malacca we see no reason to doubt that this is sufficient, but as regards Singapore this is not so clear.

2. The accommodation provided here by the Acting Colonial Engineer's proposals is based on the estimate of the Special Committee on Prison Discipline, but is considerably under the actual present numbers; this, the Committee, however, expected to be sensibly reduced both by the more deterrent character of the punishment and the shorter sentences which Judges and Magistrates would probably feel justified in inflicting, as the improved system should become fully developed.

3. It would be of course a more perfect scheme to go to a new and more extensive site where the buildings might be more symetrically arranged, and provision at once made as regards the extent of inclosure for any possible number of prisoners; but we do not feel justified in recommending the very considerable extra expenditure so involved.

4. We think it will be best to proceed gradually with the conversion of the existing prison as proposed. If, as this approaches completion it proves insufficient, the difficulty may be met either by adding a small piece of the Government reserve round Fort Canning to the inclosure, or by sending some of the longest term prisoners who have got through the first stages, and who would not require so much supervision, to detached stations for employment in quarrying, brickmaking, &c., or by an enlargement of the Penang Gaol, sufficient to allow of all the long-sentenced prisoners doing their first six months there before being sent to Singapore; the exact method of dealing with it will be better decided after the year or two's experience which must necessarily elapse before the difficulty can be fairly said to have arisen, the existing buildings being ample for any probable number until their accommodation is diminished by conversion into cellular wards.

5. Taking into consideration the nature and extent of the existing and proposed accommodation at each of the Settlements, we consider the proposed scheme as regards sites and general arrangements to be satisfactory.

6. The separate accommodation proposed consists of cells arranged in two tiers round a central ball open from the ground to the roof, except at Malacca, where the width of the existing building to be converted into cellular ward admits of a passage only. This arrangement is both most convenient for supervision, and provides a covered space for shot-drill, &c., in bad weather, so as to obviate the necessity of building shot-drill sheds at Penang, or maintaining those at Singapore (which are temporary wooden structures only), after the new wards and conversion shall have been finished. The general character of the proposed buildings is plain and substantial; they appear well adapted for their purpose, and have been specially designed with a view to economical maintenance.

7. The separate working places are being provided at Singapore in the old cooking places as recommended by the Committee, special provision will have to be made for them at Penang and Malacca in connection with the new buildings.

8. The other accommodation required within the prisons has no special character, and does not call for any remark, saye that the provision made appears suitable and sufficient, and that the concentration of the administrative buildings about the entrance and their separation, as far as possible from the body of the prison as proposed in each case is an important improvement.

9. The proposed establishments appear moderate and well considered.

(Signed)

W. INNES, Captain, R.E., Acting Colonial Engineer,

Straits Settlements. President.

263

No. 54.

The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir H. Ord, C.B.

(No. 13. Straits Settlements.)

Sir,

I HAVE received your despatch No. 202 of the 3rd of December,* forwarding the

Douning Street, January 24, 1873. Report of the Prison Commission appointed by Colonel Anson in 1871, the papers laid before Council on the subject, and proceedings and resolutions of Council thereon.

The Report, which is framed with care and ability, proceeds upon sound principles. and the Council has, in my opinion, acted wisely and with public spirit in adopting its recommendations. You will be good enough to express to the gentlemen who served on

the Commission my acknowledgements for the services they have rendered on this occasion,

I leave to your discretion the means by which the new system is to be brought into operation, only observing, with regard to the proposed officer of Inspector of Prisons, that it would be well worthy of your consideration whether the officer to be appointed should not also be charged with the duty of inspecting the several public asylums and hospitals of the Settlements on the occasion of his visits of inspection to the prisons, in respect of which additional duties he might receive another 1001. per annum.

ا

On three points of detail adverted to in the Report, I desire to make the following observations:---

In paragraph 23, page 5, it is proposed that long-sentenced Chinese and "all habitual (Chinese) offenders" should be deprived of their pig-tails. I have to observe that, in case this course is adopted, it should be adopted subject to the exceptions and regulations (as far as they apply to the case of men) stated in my Circular despatch of the 12th of September, 1872, in regard to cropping the hair of female prisoners.

In paragraphs 40 and 41 it is proposed to adopt for certain short periods as in 'Ceylon what is there termed the penal diet, that is a diet consisting exclusively of rice and salt, and water for natives, and bread and water for Europeans; and the opinion of Sir E. Creasey is quoted to rebut the presumption that a diet of this description would be injurious to the prisoners' health. Recent statistics of mortality in the Ceylon Prison have led me in some measure to doubt the opinion expressed on the subject by the Ceylon Prison Commission, and I have directed a medical inquiry to be instituted into the question. It will be well to await the result of this inquiry before introducing the Ceylon diet into the Straits gaols.

In paragraph 62, page 7, it is proposed that the four principal warders for the time being should be four members of the police force, drafted from that force for six mouths rotatory service in the prisons. In the discipline and management of prisoners experience is of so much importance that I cannot think that the arrangement proposed is one which would secure the services of efficient warders, and I am, therefore, unable to agree in the suggestion. I should, moreover, greatly doubt the utility of imparting to every member of the police force a rudimentary knowledge of the duties of another and a distinct calling.

No. 55.

! have, &c. (Signed)

CARNARVON,

Govenor Sir A. Clarke, R.E., K.C.M.G., C.B., to the Earl of Carnarvon.—(Received January 12, 1874.)

(No. 375. My Lord,

Straits Settlements.)

Government House, Singapore, November 28, 1873.

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith the inclosed copy of a Report by a Bourd of Medical Oflicers appointed to inquire into and report upon the question of the effect of the Penal Diet system on the prisoners in the gaol here, and I have given orders that their recommendation shall be carried out.

(Signed)

I have, &c.

A. CLARKE.

J. J.. GREENSHIELDS,

R. LITTLE,

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Members.

Singapore, November 12, 1872.

* No. 53.

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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