Prisoners in Revolt.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1921, Page 4

Prisoners in Revolt.

REMARKABLE IIAPI’ENINGS IN MELBOURNE GAOL.

SYDNEY, November 23

A remarkable condition of affairs lias arisen at l’entridge gaol, in Victoria, where the prisoners, because of tlio alleged failure of the officials to remedy their grievances, broke into open revolt. and finally burned down one of the prison workshops. A departmental inquiry is being held concerning the matter, but a move is being made in the State Parliament for a Koval Commission of investigation.

Tho spirit of toUollion first flamed several weeks ago, when a special se'.irch of prisoners in tho brushware shop, for forbidden articles, was ordered. The work was so thoroughly done that the place was left in disorder. This did not meet with the approval of the prisoner? when they came to the shop on the following morning, and they refused to work. On the following morning tho strike infection spread to a. further 150 men belonging to various occupational gangs. The strikers were locked up for three days, and when the visiting Magistrate came he sentenced the ringleaders to seven days’ imprisonment, cumulative upon their sentences. The others were given a month’s “probation” that is the threat of punishment was held over them to ensure their good behaviour. For some weeks the rebellion smouldered, then last week it broke out afresh. The overseer of the wire-net-ting factory had occasion to reprimand a prisoner for not doing his work properly. The man refused to work at all and was locked up. The next day the whole of the prisoners in the factoryall indeterminate sentence men—refused to work. Other men in the indeterminate division also {revolted. A day or so later the visiting magistrate sentenced twenty-five men to 21 days’ solitary confinement. They retaliated I\v breaking all the the cells and were as a punishment ordered to be put into strait-jackets. Two days Inter the tire broke out in the wire-netting factory. Three men. suspected of being responsible for the outbreak, were punished, and since then life at Pentridge has been comparatively uneventful.