1904 — Page 383

(X 3 )

Questions.

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

VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, aud during how many hours is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of trea:l-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 în use?

IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Gaol, state—

Answers.

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

The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st October from 6. 1ỗ n.m. to 4.15 p.m., and from the 1st November to the 28th February from 6,45 n.m, to 4.15 p.m., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crank labour, full task, bavo to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lbs. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 41⁄2 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- earrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

Tailoring, shoe-making, carpentering, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, net making, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, and incidental repairs to the Gaol buildings.

Prisoners have not been employed outside the Gaol during the year,

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

2. How are the profits of their labour accounted

for?

X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 19017

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1904 was $113,251.48, of which the sum of $4,215,58 was refunded For the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Military,

Naval,

$1,617.30 1,473.30

Debtors...

Waste food sold,

Personal Emoluments refunded, Other Charges refunded,

Forfeitures,

529.50

54.75

533 23

3.50

$4,215.58

XI. What was the annual anmut of the pria muurs" earnings during 19047

Ta2 total amount pail into the Treasury during the Veur 011 account of Prison Industrial Labour was $3,350.38, of which $94,14 was for 1903, and $5,2565.2 4 for 1901.

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

The average timu » duning which the prisoners sleep is about 11 hours in 24.

The cells are not lighted, bat gus is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Assistant Worders on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required.

Assistant Warders are on duty in the Gud through- out the night, nul patrol the corridors and pas-ages coustantly. The patrols are visited every hon by ¤ Principal Warder. The Assistant Superintendent makes one surprise visit each week after 9 p.m.