1925 — Page 390

388

( X 2 )

Questions.

VL-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 tread-wheel labour, give, first, the total time on and off at the wheel, etc.: sveondly, 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 esenpes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the Guol, 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 1925 ?

Answers,

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

7

The hours of labone throughout the year are from

to 4 p.m., one hour being allowed for the mid-

day meal.

No work is usually performed on Saturday after- uoons, Sundays, Xmas Day, Good Friday & Chinese New Year Day. Prisoners at crank Inbour, full task, have to complete 12,500 revolutions at 12 Jb. pressure. Chinese prisoners at shot-drill do 43 hours in spells of half an hour at a time, with stonecarrying or onkum-picking in the intervals,

Tailoring, shoe-making, soap-unaking, carpeutoring, huskhe ting, grass and coir mat making, rattan work, type casting, printing, book-binding, tinsmithing, washing, cleaning, gardening, and incidental repairs to the Prison buildings.

1. Small detached parties are occasionally employed on garden work, bui'ding or repairs.

2. By armel guards.

3. Nil.

4. No profits.

$462,827.04 of

The total expenditure of the Gaol in 1925 was which the sum of 86 14.20 was refunded for the subsistence of Military Court Matrial prisoners, Debtors, &c., as follows:-

Debtors,

Naval Prisoners,

Military Prisoners

Canton

Marine Prisoners

.....$335.00

63.50

8.75

31.15

205.80

$644.20

XL-What was the amount of the prisoners' -earnings during 1925 ?

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

$122,221.20

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

The cells of the Victoria Gaol 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 prisouers sleep in association in lighted Halls,

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

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

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