1918 — Page 288

276

(X 2)

Questions.

V1.-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 bow many hours, is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of tread-wheel labour, give, first, the total time on and off at the wheel, etc.: secoully, the length of spells and intervals of rest.

Vill. What kind of labour, other than penal labour is in use?

IX. If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the Guol, 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, 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 1918?

Answers.

There is no tread-labour, but shot-drill, erauk labour, carrying stone 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 p.in., and from the 1st November to the 29th February from 6.45 a.m. to 4 p.m., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crank labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 b. pressure. European and Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 41⁄2 hours in spells of balf an hour at a time, with stone- carrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

Tailoring, shoe-making, soap-making, carpeutering, 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 Gaol during the year.

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1918 was $108,651.95 of which the sum of $1,545.80 was refunded for the subsistence of Military Court Martial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Debtors,...............

..........................$ 449,00

Prisoners sentenced by the Marine

Magistrate,

Wei-hai-wei Prisoners....

Canton Prisonere,

Shanghai Prisoners,

Military Prisoners, Naval Prisoners, Waste Food sold,

3.90

376.80

261.00

30.30

286.80

Aa

51.60

86.40

$1,545.80

XI. What was the annual amount of the prisoners" earnings during 19187

X11. 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 $3,954.70, of which $140,80 was for 1917, and $3,813.90 for 1918.

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

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

Assistant Warders are on duty in the Gaol through- out the night, and patrol the corridora, passages and yards of the prison constantly. The patrols are visited every hour by a Principal Warder." The As- sistant Superintendent makes one surprise visit ench week after 9 p.m.