CO885-(2-3) — Page 686

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference:

.885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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I recommend large, that I do not feel justified in proposing their immediate execution. that the first rearrangement be effected in the prison of Singapore, where for an expen- diture of

dollars on the plan I submit herewith, means can be provided for carrying out effectually the sentence in the first stage with a considerable portion of the prisoners of that class now under confinement there. Should the result of this alteration in the system of prison discipline prove as satisfactory as I cannot doubt it will, I should be prepared to submit later for the approval of his Excellency the Governor the necessary plans and estimates for completing the rearrangement of the prison at Singapore, and for effecting the necessary changes in the prisons at the other Settlements.

It is obvious that, in order to carry out so rigid a system of discipline as is contem- plated. adequate and efficient supervision must be provided. We are at present compelled to rely to a considerable extent on the aid of natives, the best of whom, well trained as they may be, do not possess those qualifications, and especially that force of character, which are absolutely essential in a discipline officer. I therefore ask that the staff of the Singapore Prison may be augmented by three junior European warders, as less than this number will not, I feel confident, afford a prospect of working successfully the scheme proposed. I find that the best class of warders we possess have been obtained from the army, and I have no doubt that good men may be had from the troops serving in the Settlements, and their wages should be 30 dollars per mensem, with a prospective increase to, say, 40 dollars, which is somewhat less than the rate we have hitherto paid.

Although I have not proposed at present the rearrangement of the prisons at Penang and Malacca necessary to admit of separation during working hours, I wish to introduce at once the classification of the prisoners, and to assist in doing it efficiently. It will be necessary that an additional European warder should be appointed to each of these estab. lishments. In conclusion, the object I have had in view in these recommendations has been to establish the principle of compelling the prisoner, while suffering for his crime, to reimburse to the State in every stage of his punishment the cost of his maintenance, while at the same time to train him by degrees and gradations of discipline to a feeling of self- From the opinions I respect, and the proper estimate of his value amongst his fellow men. have expressed respecting the character of the native criminal with whom I am dealing, it is of course evident that I do not anticipate that these results will be at once brought about by any system of penal discipline that can be devised, but being satisfied that an improvement in our present system is required, I have proposed that which I think best calculated to further this end, and I submit it for the consideration of his Excellency the Governor in the carnest hope that it may be found productive of advantage both to the State and the criminal.

I append a revised diet table, which 1 consider an improvement upon that now in force.

I have, &c.

Signed) J. F. A. McNAIR, Major, R.A.,

Colonial Engineer und Comptroller of Convicts, Straits Settlements.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements.

APPENDIX (B). Report by Dr. Little.

The hard labour that usually accompanies the sentence of “penal servitude" ought to be such as will best carry out this with justice to the convict, and hard labour will vary according to circumstances; for that which answers in Portland Prison would not be suitable in Culcutta, nor would the work of the Norfolk Island convict be fitted for the Straits one. The work or labour or punishment of the convict in the Straits, especially in Singapore, ought to have four qualifications.

1stly. It ought to be such as can be carried on inside the prison walls.

2adly. It ought truly to represent what justice understands by "hard labour,” and. yet not such as would so distress the convict as to make his sentence heavier than was intended.

3rdly. This labour ought, if possible, to be remunerative; and

4thly. It ought to be of that description that may not compete with free labour. The first qualification necessary for appropriate convict labour is that it should be able

to be carried où efficiently within the convict lines. The most of prison work is so limited

as basket-work and the present method of mat-making, that only a small percentage of

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convicts can be engaged in it, leaving the greater part without employment, unless they are put to out-door work, which, the Committee knów, might be attended with serious conse. quences, in addition to being opposed to the present idea of prison discipline. The only kind of work 1 know of, where all, or nearly all the prisoners can find employment, is the making of coir-fibre from cocoanut husks, and the manufacture of the coir into rope, mats, matting, gunny-bags, &c.

Secondly. The manufacture of coir from cocoanut husks would give employment to hundreds of convicts, and is of such a nature as to represent what we understand by hard continuous labour, yet is not unhealthy or physically debilitating. It is one that can be well and effectively superintended by the present staff of officers and warders. It is not a noisy or offensive trade, and cannot disturb any one beyond the walls. It is one where prisoners, though they must be congregated together, can be kept perfectly silent, and it is one where no offensive weapons are required, to the danger of the warders.

In the third place, it will be remunerative, and, conducted with due economy, highly so.

Having been Managing Director of a Coir Company for many years, I am in a position to prove that if coir is made here and manufactured into rope, it will

pay

well.

Of a certainty the Coir Company with which I have been connected has not been a paying concern, but that hes resulted from shipping the coir-fibre to England. Ever since we converted all the coir-fibre into rope, we have kept our expenditure within our receipts.

To make 1 picul of rope that sells, according to the quality of the fibre from 5 to 10

dollars-

566 husks are required, at 14 dollars per thousand

Proportion of wages, amounting to 345 dol. 88 e. a-month Proportion of wages for laying up rope, 94 dol. 68 c. per month. Making into yarn, per picul

DJ. C.

U 85

1 62*

0 45

1 50

+ 12

This result was taken during the month of July last, when we made from 121,350 husks, 215 piculs of rope; in the other months, when we have made 250 piculs, the cost was reduced from 4:42 to 403 dollars; and as the rope sells for 5 dollars and upwards, there is left a small balance in our favour. The Chairman of the Cammittee has a Memo- randum of our operations during the last nine months, showing a considerable balance to our credit. This I would reckon as nothing, if the difference of wages had not to be con- sidered. Now the men who make the coir into rope receive at the rate of 5 dollars a month each; the same class of men within the prison walls would only cost 2 dollars a month, if so much. Now, if the late Coir Company could have a credit balance, and pay their coolies 5 dollars a month, what must it not be, when the same class of men can be got under prison discipline for 2 dollars. Further, 27 men at the Coir Factory were engaged in making the coir, and that number included two firemen for the engine, and these men turned out 250 piculs of clean coir in a month. Under the present prison discipline one man is expected to make 1 catties a day of clean coir, or, reckoning 25 working days in the month, 37 catties, multiplied by 27, the number of men employed at the Coir Factory, makes 100-29 catties, or u trifle more than 10 piculs and 2 catties, while at the Factory 250 piculs are turned out, or 25 times as much.

These facts will, I think, convince the Committee that if coir is made by machinery, it must be a most paying employment.

Last and fourthly, it does not interfere with free labour, as washing on a large scale by machinery, making of clothes, &c., &e. In short, if the labour of convicts was confined to the making of coir by machinery, and that into rope, mats, and matting, the convicts would have an occupation that would keep them within the prison walls, carry out the ends of justice, be neither injurious nor oppressive to them, could easily be superintended, would not interfere with five labour, and would be eminently remunerative.

(Signed) R. LITTLE.