CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6] — Page 458

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2, Indian Turnkeys should be taken on, (3) that a European turnkey should be

appointed to take charge of the industries whose duties would be similar

to those of a trade warder in a home prison who is not included in the

discipline staff.

455

This would give a total of 49 discipline

officers or an increase of 9 officers on the present establishment exclusive

indwhie.

of the officer in charge of inluatcious. In England the allowance of officers

to prisoners in convict prisons is 10 per cent which is supposed to be sufficient

to provide for all contingencies such as men going sick and men on leave, In the

hose prison service every warder is required to take 14 days leave every year.

This is considered necessary to keep the men in health and to give them relaxation

from their monotonous duties. If the taking of leave is regarded in England as

being so necessary as to be made compulsory it would appear to be more than ever

that

ecessary to Europeans serving in hot climated should at least have the same pri-

vilege but this is impossible with the existing establishment.

I have carefully considered every detail and am

of opinion that 49 is the minimum number of discipline officers with which this

gaol can be worked satisfactorily.

I propose that Indians should be engaged as

turnkeys as I have found that if carefully selected they are as a rule most relia -

ble men and I believe the experiment if tried here would prove successful. These

den would not be placed in charge of stations but would act as second officers to

a party of prisoners.

I further beg to recommend that the titles

Warden, Head Turnkey, Turnkey and Female Hospital Nurse should be abolished and

that the following titles should be substituted respectively viz:- Chief Warder,

Principal Warder, Warder and Female Warder.

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