77

I—4

Diet on the lowest scale allowed by the medical officer, with strict silence and monotonous employment, would be a great difference to the present system of being admitted for forty-eight hours on evening of sentence—sick next day—and following day discharged by noon, after only a few hours of work, and that according to inclination. No visits allowed to prisoners whilst in close prisons. One letter may be written after the expiration of three months' imprisonment, the last two months of which conduct to have been exemplary. Public-works Prisons. The prisoners in public-works prisons should be better dieted than in close prisons. Luxuries, such as tobacco, &c, should be strictly prohibited in all prisons, and visits and communication with friends less frequent than at present, and according to classification. No prisoner should be transferred into a public-works prison until he has undergone at least six months in close prison, the last three months of which his conduct should be exemplary. The Ist fourth of a sentence should be termed ... ... ... Probation class. The 2nd I An equivalent for each quarter should be provided in a number of marks, ] 3rd „ ] which number must be earned in a class before promotion to the next. / The 3rd < Prisoners misconducting themselves, say in the 3rd class, may be re- V 2nd „ J duced to a lower class, or may be subject to an addition of marks, which I The 4th ( they will have to earn in 3rd class, and before being promoted to 2nd. ) Ist „ Special privileges should be given to each class, so as to act as an incentive to prisoners to endeavour to get promoted. Prisoners would be noted in their respective classes by badges on clothing, and each class, as far as the building affords facilities, should be kept separate. It would also be a fit subject for consideration as to the advisability of having centrally situated in each Island one of the prisons, or a special part of one of them, as an invalid prison. To this prison should be sent (of those over a six months' sentence) the old, the lame, the epileptic, the invalid, and the imbecile. At present the prisons are lumbered up with prisoners who are totally unfit for labour, and who are an encumbrance and obstruction to the introduction of hard labour and discipline. To this invalid prison—in the Island in which the penal prison may be situated —could be specially built a wing for invalid penal prisoners. One female prison for each Island would be quite sufficient for all sentences over three months. This might also be attached to a male prison, but be kept entirely separate iv working, except to the gaoler. An efficiently-trained matron would be required. A Director or Inspector of Prisons would be necessary, and a dividing of the colony into districts desirable, with an appointment of a Chief Gaoler in each district. If so divided the Chief Gaoler of the district would visit each prison in his district at uncertain periods, and all reports and business correspondence could pass through him to the Director, who would then have to correspond and deal with about eight persons (or less), instead of probably twenty. This could be so arranged as in no way to interfere with a sub-gaoler's special duty as regards safe custody of the prisoners under his charge. At present, graduation of officers is very weak, being only as regards salar3 r. Uniformity is much needed in prison matters —appointments of officers and uniforms, as also the prisoners' clothing and accommodation —all require attending to ; and these matters need not be delayed till new permanent gaols are built; but, as all extensive changes in prison matters require to be done very cautiously and gradually, the sooner they are commenced, as regard disciplinary purposes, the better. I would strongly urge for consideration the necessity for inquiring into an applicant's antecedents before he is appointed to any position in the prison service, and unless under special circumstances, would suggest that all officers pass through the lower prisons to the upper —that is to say, officers employed at small outlying gaols should be eligible to transfers as vacancies occur iv the close or public-works prisons, and those in the close or public-works prisons to the penal prisons. Of course, as the duties of the penal prison will be more severe and responsible, the salary will be greater; and an officer of the penal prison should be liable to be transferred to close or publicworks prison if considered necessary. A graduated scale of pay is very desirable. At present the officers have nothing to look forward to, but that in ten years hence they will draw the same amount of salary as at present; and, as all persons desire to improve their positions, and no prospects are held out, he holds on till he accumulates a trifle, with which he retires and opens a tavern, or otherwise aims at benefiting himself. A low scale of pay on appointment, with an annual increment, and ultimate pension after a term of years, would induce a number of persons to apply for situations, from which selections could be made. The salaries throughout the colony, according to the class of the prison, should be assimilated. If an officer is situated in any position, whereby he is placed at a disadvantage, it could be rectified by an allowance being granted whilst such special circumstances exist, and on removal, such allowances would not go with the officer, but be taken over by his successor, should they still be deemed necessary. The shoemaking and tailoring, and the trade-work (if possible) for the whole of the prison service, and, if circumstances permit, the work of some other Government departments, as at present, should be done in the prisons. The female prisoners could be fully employed in working for the male and female prisons in making clothing, &c, for the prison department, if they, the female prisoners, were concentrated, and the question of assimilation of prisoners' clothing settled. In England the prison officers' and police uniforms are made in the prisons, and several thousand pairs of boots are made annually for the constabulary department, at a great saving to the Government. I do not think the bringing into operation the above or similar suggestions would involve any very great outlay. Ido believe they would be very beneficial.