CO129-578-7 Prison Department- staffing increases 15-3-1939 - 8-12-1939 — Page 21

2.

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are showing at being required to put a sentence of hard labour into actual practice: this is one of

several reforms which Major Willcocks is bringing about. Informers among the prisoners have revealed the existence of more than one plot of violence which it would not be safe to ignore. An addition to the European Warder staff is necessary in order to keep this guard at proper strength.

4.

I have accordingly engaged provisionally these four additional officers on a temporary basis. It is anticipated that for the present year funds will be available to meet the salaries of these posts from

savings on Personal Emoluments. I trust that I shall

have your approval of my action.

5.

I may add that I have under consideration

a scheme for confining short-term prisoners convicted of crimes, such as persistent begging, hawking without licences and so forth, in one or more detention camps: these will have no connection with Stanley Prison

except, of course, that they will be under the

Commissioner of Prisons' control.

These camps will serve to relieve Stanley Prison of some hundreds of short-term prisoners who should not be brought into contact with the more hardened criminals; moreover, the persons confined there will be employed on useful work, such as reclamation.

6.

It is, therefore, more or less certain that before long I shall apply to you for your approval of the expenditure of a considerable capital sum for the erection by contract of the nucleus of the first

detention camp.

I hope, however, to build the remaining