1923 — Page 354

352

(X 2)

Questions.

VI.—Is penal labour—that is, labour by trend-mill, erunk, 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 trend-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 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 1923 ?

Answers,

#There is un trend-labour, but shot-drill, crnok- 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 pam, and from the 1st November to the 28th February. from 6.45 a.m. to 4 pan., one hour being allowed for dinner. Prisoners at crunk labour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at a 12 lb. pressure. Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 41⁄2 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stonecarrying or oakum-picking in the intervals.

Tailoring, shoe-making, soup-making, carpentering, huskbeating, grass and eoir mat making, rattan work, printing, book-binding, tinsmithing, washing, clean- ing, gardening, and incidental repairs to the. Prison buildings,

1. Small detached parties are occasionally employed on garden work, building or repairs.

2. By armed guards.

3. Nil,

1. No profits.

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1923 was $324,698,26 of which the sum of $587.50 was refunded for the subsistence of Military Court Martial prisouers, Debtors, &c., as follows ;-

Debtors,

$ 133.50

Military Prisoners,

100,80

Naval Prisoners,

192.20

Prisoners sentenced by Marine

Magistrate,

161.00

******

$587.50

XL-What was the amount of the prisoners? earnings during 1523 ?

XIL-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?

$116,714.72.

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

The cells of the Victoria faol are not lighted, but lights are kept burning in all passages and corridors, and the patrols on duty are provided with lamps to throw light into the cells when required.

At Lai Chi Kok prisouors sleep in association in lighted Halls.

Patrols are on duty in Victoria Gaol throughout the night, and patrol the corridors, passages and yards of the prison constantly. The patrols are visited at frequent intervals by a Principal Warder.

At Lai Chi Kok the patrols are bebind a grille through which they supervise the prisoners. They are frequently visited by senior officers.