1889 — Page 239

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Questions.

VI. Is penal labour—that is labour by tread-mill. ezank, or shot drill-in force?

VH. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in esper 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.

Answers.

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

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

(See question IX).

The hours of labour for all prisoners in this Colony throughout the year are from 7.A.M. 10 4 P.M., vue hour being allawal for dinner. When penal labour is resorted to, ineu on the crank have to complete revo- Intions not exceeding 12,500 per day; European pri- soners at shot-drill do 3 hours, and Chinese prisoners " 4 hours per day, in spells of half and hour at a time, with stone-carrying or oakum-picking during the intervals.

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. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years ?

2. How are the profits, of their labour accounted

for?

X. What was the tofal annual cost of the Prison during the year 1889?

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

Prisoners are not now employed beyond the walls of the Guol.

32 Prisoners escaped.

All cash caruings are paid into the Treasury hended ns Prison labour. Amount during the year $6,011.27 of which $643.14 was for 1888, and 5,368,13 for 1889.

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1889 was $53.656.11, of which the sum of $1,920,62 was re- fivided for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial and Consulate prisoners, Debtors, &c., us fol- lows:-

Military, Naval,

.$895.27

330.75

Consulates,

132.75

Delitors.......

$69.43

Jncidentul articles sold,

192.42

$1,920.62

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings during 18897

XII. What are the number of the hours allotted for simp? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormi- tries lighted; and how often are they putrolled during

the night?

It has been enstonmury in past years to show under this head the total cash earnings for Prison industrial labour during the year. This in 1889 amounted to $4,026.87 being the proceeds of oakum-picking, coir mat ninking, fender mid swab making, net making and a small account for carpentering, tailoring, and shoe- making. The cost of uniterial purchased has not been deducted from this amount. This does not include the value of labour for clothing and 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 passugos und corridors, and the Turnkeys o. duty are provided with bidls-eyes lanterns, to throw light into the dormitories when required.

Turukeys are on duty in the Guol throughout the night, and patrol the corridors and passages constantly.