1914 — Page 524

(X 3 )

Questions.

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

VII. If so, during what periods of imprisonments, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours, is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of treal-wheel labour, give, first, the total time on and off at the wheel, etc.; secondly, the length of spells and intervals 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 ethployed?

2. How are they supervised ?

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

4. How are the profits of their labour accounted

for?

X. What was the total annual cost of the Prison during the year 1913 ?

Answers.

There is no trend-labour, but shot-drilk, crank- labour, carrying stoue and stone breaking are in force.

The hours of labour throughout the year are from the 1st March to the 31st October from 6.15 a.m. to 4.15 p.m., and from the 1st November to the 28th February from 6.45 a.m. to 4.15 p.m., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crank labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lb. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 4 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stone- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

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

Prisoners have not been employed outside the Guol during the year.

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1914 was $108,143.24, of which the sum of $4,854,23 was refunded for the subsistence of Naval, Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Debtors,...

Prisoners sentenced by the Murine

Magistrato,

Wei-bai-wei Prisoners,..

Shanghai Prisoners,

..$ 549.25

3,058.80

109.50

553.80

Tientsin Prisoners,

55.50

Naval Prisoners,

118.20

Military Prisoners,

7.20

Canton...

14.70

Waste Food sold,

95.70

Forfeitures,

291.58

$4,854.23

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings during 1913?

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 total amount paid into the Treasury during the year on account of Prison Industrial Labour was $3,329.45, of which $89.62 was for 1913, and $3,239.83 for 1914.

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

The cells of the Victoria Gaol are not lighted, but gas is kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the Assistant Wurders on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required.

Assistant Warders are on duty in the Gool through- out the night, and patrol the corridors, passages and yards of the prison constantly. The patrols are visited every hour by a Principal Wardor. The As- sistant Superintendent ruakes one surprise visit each week after 9 p.m.