PRISON LABOR.
A good deal has been both said and written here agab.st the employment of prisoners on public works; but, save a few words of
apology from the Provincial Treasurer during one of his recent election speeches, we can* not recollect that anyone outside the prison walls has ventured to affirm the desirability of their employment. The governor of the gaol, however, has never neglected an opportunity of assuming the latter position ; and although much condemned at the time, his opinions are now rapidly gaining ground. In Victoria, it will be remembered, a newspaper controversy was occ isioned over this question about a twelvemonth ago; an 1 the effect of it has been that the authoiitiea there have consented to take a leaf out of Mr Caldwell’s book. Prisoners there short-sentenced men particularly—are now, for the first time in the history r.f the Colony, removed from Pentridge to be employed on public works, with this advantage over our system,' that if well behaved during the term of that employment, which varies accoi'ding to the length ef sentence, the men become entitled to a wage, which reaches a maximum of a shilling a day. Mr Caldwell’s last report, more especially that portion of it which we subjoin, was very favorably noticed by most of the leading papers of 'England and America, and forms the groundwork of a very interesting article in the Ooiifempomri/ Meview by Mr Odger, one of the leaders of the London Working Men’s Society. In the extract from the report, which we give, Sir Caldwell very pointedly urge* the advaptagejj of employment of prisoners, and show’s conclusively that their labor in no wise competes with free labor. Premi-ing that it is n>t, strictly speaking, withiu'his province to discuss ‘ the s ihject, he submits what lie has contend d for eye? spee ho has bgd charge of the department, that, if prisoners who are now domped to penal work were free and honest men, they would natura’ly compete for that same free labor, which is now objected to, and that, therefore, at the very outside, no injustice can be done to voluntary enterprise by employment of prisoners, provided always that the Government stands in place of supplier of all the prisoners' wants, and as such, and also as competitor, demands the full price for the men’s labor. But, apart from this politico-economical aspect, the prisoners must work, and the more steady amt remunerative their labor is, the better is the sentence of the law carried out. If public works are required, the cost of which to the Province amounts to many thousands of pounds, it is argued that such ought to be given to free, ho est labore-s, who could circulate the medium with which their labor was paid, and, while improving their own position, also improve that of the community. Those who reason thus forget that in most respects the position wif}} Regard to prison labor is ajialogous, tor nearly all tl|o' expenses inuurrec on behalf of the prisoners are almost inline: diately made to eb’O'ila'o again, and find their way through different channels to the various centres of business, and the difference is only that the proof which in the former case would fall to individuals as direct workers, is now spread cn producers, manufacture! s, and vendors; while there is this absolute advantage, that as ppisqu Iqbqr ig produced at the very minimum of expense, the quantity of work for the money must be much greater, and the accrued profit fall to the Province. Besides, it should not be forgotten that idle inch in pris m cost just as much as working ones, and that the expense which is now made reproductive, would in a reverse case become an absolute loss; and further, that even under the most approved and remunerative system, it will be found that the whole amount of prison labor will have no more effect in loweting prices of free labor than the removal of a bucket of water has iu lowering the level of the waters of the bay. The report now submitted, as well ad two previous returns, together with daily experience, will prove to the really candid enquirer that forced labor can be made both profitable and useful; but it is much to be desired that such works should be found as will bear external evidence of their leproductivc nature. I
Direct proofs qf this, as well as of tin positive though indirect benefits which prisoi labour in many cases produces to the fre< laborer, are by no menus wanting, althougl they cannot be claimed or represented in sc many pounds, shillings, and pence, and—nol to go too far for exemplification—may be seer in tho recent reclamation of ground near the High School, This work was originally prr. posed and undertaken for the purpose of extending the boys’ (day-ground, bnt to do sc considerable leveiluics had to be made in Several difectibps, whjch would cost far
too much to have been attempted by free labor. This done, what has been the rouseqnence ? On the reclaimed spaces buildings spring up right and left, and not only are the artisans who erect these thereby directly benefited in obtaining work which otherwise would have remained undone, but the. surrounding land increases in value, and the community profits by it thus far, that it advances another step towards legitimate and permanent settlement. The same result has to some extent already been obtained (and will in course of time b: more and more manifest) from the removal of Bell lidl, the Octagon and Dredge works, the Jetty extension, and several others, most of which surely never would have been attempted by private enterprise. When it is considered that every shilling that is withdrawn from the pockets of the honest portion of the community to pay for the support of criminals a Ids to the difficulty of the honest in maintaining their own families, and to the rid; therefore of bee miug reckless and fulling into crime themselves, the ini] oitancc of economy in the management of our gaols becomes of great importance, both in a moral and social po.nt of view. Fortunately it so happens that economy, instead of being opposed to the principles and the primary objects of prison discipline, is most essential to their attainment — the same industry and frugality which keeps down the expenses of a gaol being among the most effectual me ms of renderin',' the gaol deterring and of reforming the offender; and “useful and productive j u or.” which is pronounced to be “ the main element of any sound reformatory system,” is not only an opinion in which every writer of eminence concurs, but a maxim which will eventually be the very first in practical prison management. The refoi motion of me:: can never he merely a mechanical process. It is only by moral influence that the bitter elemrnts can be rcs'ored, if they ever existed, or created, if they had no existence before ; but the basis of all good systems of prison discipline must, in my opinion, be work —steady, active, honorable work. It is by work alone that the great mass of mankind can honestly live, and unless prisoners acquire habits of industry an 1 a HI; ug for some kinds of labor, little hope of improved conduct can be entertained at their liberation.
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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2531, 28 March 1871, Page 2
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1,228PRISON LABOR. Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2531, 28 March 1871, Page 2
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