1888 — Page 235

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Questions.

VL Is penal labour-that is labour by tread-mill, crank, or shot-drill-in force?

VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-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. On 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, bave taken place during each of the last three years?

4. How are the profits, of their labour accounted

for?

Answers.

All the prisoners of the above classes are separated at night, and in the yards, as much as possiblo.

There is no tread-mill labour, but shot-drill, crank- labour, stone-carrying and oakum-picking aro in force.

(See question LX).

The hours of labour for all prisoners in this Colony throughout the year are from 7 A.3. to 4 P.M., ono hour being allowed for dinner. When penal labour is resorted to, men on the crank have to complete revo- lutions not exceeding 12,500 per day; European pri- soners at shot-drill do 3 hours, and Chinese prisoners 4 hours per day, in spel's of half and hour at a time, with stone-carrying or oakum-picking during the intervals.

Tailoring, shoe making, carpentering, grass, and coir mat making, cane-chair making, ship swab and fender making, printing, net making, white washing, cleaning. and incidental repairs to the Gaol buildings.

On public works under the orders of the Surveyor General.

By 1 Head Turnkey, 1 European Turnkey, 7 As- sistant Turnkeys, and 4 Guards. 32 Prisoners escaped.

All cash earnings are paid into the Treasury headed as Prison labour.~~ Amount during the year $5,712.34 of which $178.85 was for 1887, and 5,533.49 for 1888. Extra food to chain-gang was discontinued from 26th June, 1886, under Government order. (Vide Notifica- tion No. 235 Government Gazette for 1886.)

X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1888 ?

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1888 was $48,679.56, of which the sum of $1,345.94 was re- funded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial and Cousulate prisoners, Debtors, &c., as fol-

lows:-

Military, Naval,

.$705.61

236.7J

Consulates,

76.25

Debtors......

256.05

Incidental articles sold, Forfeiture".

52.50

18.78

$1,345.94

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' carnings during 1888.

XII, What are the number of the hours allotted for sloop? And, if alcop is in association, are the dormis tories lighted; and how often are they patrolled during the night?

It has been customary in past years to show under this head the total cash earnings for Prison industrial labour during the year. This in 1888 amounted to $3,878,01 being the proceeds of oakum-picking, coir mat making, fender and swab making, net making and a small account for carpentering, tailoring, and shoe- making. The cost of insterial purchased has not been deducted from this amount. This does not include the value of labour on Public works or for clothing aud matting made in Gaol for Prison use, nor the value of Printing done for Public Offices,

The average time during which the prisoners sleep is about 11 hours in 24.

The dormitories are not lighted; but Gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Turnkeys on duty are provided with bulls-eyes lanterns, to throw light into the dormitories when required.

Turnkeys are on daty in the Gaol throughout the night, and patrol the corridors and passages constantly.