PRISONERS PROTEST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 8

PRISONERS PROTEST.

STRANGE METHOD. NOTES IN DISCARDED BREAD. An unusual method of ventilating alleged griovanees was adopted yesterday by some of the prisoners at tho Terraco Gaol. When tho gang which goes daily to work at tlio brick kilns at Mount Cook was passing tho tram shed ill Upper Willis Street yesterday morning a. number of tho prisoners disposed of their rations of bread, and in tlio bread v wero found sevoral notes, three of which read: —

"This is half of what we get. Smell it, and if you take it to you would do the prisoners a good turn. Take thiß with it; it is what wo get to live on. — 'A Prisoner.' "

"Will tho public kindly gather this bread up and send it to Warder . whoso children are starving in —— Street. Sour bread to do 8 hours' work

"We want an inquiry into the conduct of this gaol. \ou people, tho taxpayers, are paying big salaries to inspectors whom wo very seldom see. Also Maori hero who is one mass of running sores. Wo got to uso same bath and sanitary conveniences. Doctor says complaint catching." Mr. J. C. Scanlon, tho gaoler at the Terraco Prison, states that the bread was disposed of so neatly that the offenders wore not noticed committing tho act. Consequently there is no one to make the charge against. He said that tho idea was something similar to ouo conceived by prisoners at Lytt-clton about eighteen months ago. Ho attributes the incident to the discontent of about half a dozen worthless men who dominate the other prisoners.

Recently a stricter searoh of prisoi.crs lias been insisted on and this is thought to have ruffled tho occupants of tho gaol. Tho prisoners have, it is stated, ampl.o opportunity to put their Grievances before proper authorities, uut they' are liable to punishment if these grievances aro frivolous.

_ Mr. Scanlon statos that tho allegations about a Maori prisoner are incorrect, and ho adds that the Maori was made to bathe in a bath reserved for special cases. Tho bread, tho gaoler, adds, is very good indeed, and so is all tho food.