PRISONERS ON STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1415, 16 April 1912, Page 7

PRISONERS ON STRIKE

TROUBLE IN LYTTELTON OAOU SULLEN SILENCE. OVERAWED BY POLICE AND MILITARY, (By Teleffraph.-Prese Association.) Christchurch, April 15. Serious troublo occurred among tho prl« eoncrs in Lyttelton Gaol to-day, which culminated in a 6trikc. Tho trouble start, cd early in tho morning, shortly after the prisoners wore unlocked. After breakfast tho warders prepared to get their gangs T«ady (o go to work, but tho prisonei'3 refused to leave gaol. Warnings by tho gaolers were of no avail, and the prisoners eiinply lounged about the exercise yard. Tho prisoners employed in the gaol workshops worked quietly during tho morning, but after (he midday meal refused to go.back to w:ork. About 98 prisoners were on strike, 83 of them being members of the outside gangs. Tho gaoler (Mr. M'Murray) realised the seriousness of the position, and telegraphed to Wellington acquainting the authorities of the trouble. Ho waited for some tirao for the men to come forward and make a statement of their grievances, but none appeared .willing to do so. Mr. M'Miirrny then informed Mr. J. Garrard, one of the visiting justices, of what was going on, and Mr. W. J. Collins was also sent for. Messrs. Garrard and Collins went to the gaol, and a number of the prisoners were sent for to explain their grievances in the board room. None of them would come forward, and the big body of prisoners simply sat tight in the exercise yards talking quietly among themselves. One man vol' unteered to etato.the ;ease, but was overawed by the threatening; behaviour of his fellow prisoners, and retired to the ranks.

After waiting, for porno time the visiting justices went' out into the yard, and spoke to the prisoners. They pointed out tho seriousness of their conduct, and advised the men to come forward frankly, and state the nature of their grievances, and assured them that any complaints they wished to make would receive tho fullest and fairest consideration. Even this had no effect,,for the prisoners refused to mako any "statement to the justices, and indicated that they would deal with nobody but the Inspector of Prisons iu regard to their grievances. Realising , that further efforts to induce any of the prisoners ,tc- state their case would be useless, the justices left the prison. The men continued to lounge about the exerciso ward observing a sullen eilenca towards the warders.

In the meantime the gaoler received instructions from Wellington to secure outside assistance- to deal with the refractory prisoners. Mr!. M'Muvray comuiu. nioated with the Inspector of Police at Christchurch, and with the Officer Commanding the Lytlclton detachment of Permanent Artillery, and, iu response to his representations, it was decided to send a detachment of police from Christchurch, and to , detail several artillerymen for service at tho gaol. About twelve police- constables went through to Lytteltpn by the 4 p.m; train, nud were met by the local police and several artillery-

Tho unusual sight of a largo company of police and military men marching up Oxford Street caused some speculation, among the people- in the street. The men went first to the police station and tlieu proceeded to tho gaol, where they joined forces with the warders. The combined force moved into tho exevc-U'o yard, and the mutinous prisoners woro then ordered by the gaoler to muster iu line. They wore plainly overawed by the display of authority, and whatever plans they might havo made to cause trouble to tho gaol officers did not hatch out. They sullenly but .obediently .lined up- outside the kitchen, ajid;,their" evening rations were served out"as'usuai.-'-'Each man after receiving his- allowance walked quietly to his cell, and was locked up for tho night, and die trouble was over for the time being. Tho" police "returned to Christchurch by. the next train, and the artillerymen, wero dismissed., ,■'. , y Inquiries made to-night went t» show that all was quiet in tho gaol. A "Press" reporter gathered that. the troublo has lxjen fomented by about twelve men, all long-sentence criminals of a dangerous type. It is understood that the system "of strict searching of tho men employed on works outside the gaol for contraband articles is strongly resented by tho men, "and this feeling has ken worked upon by the ringleaders, who induced the main body .to go out on strike as a protest. Dr. ilay, Inspector of Prisons, will ai* rivo from Wellington by tho Maori tomorrow morning, and will visit Lyttelton Gaol to investigate-matters.