DISCIPLINE IN HANMER PRISON CAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 18 May 1909, Page 4

DISCIPLINE IN HANMER PRISON CAMP.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY STYLE. Discipline in Hanmer prison camp has for some time past apparently been anything but exemplary, and a commission which enquired into matters on Wednesday, according to reliable information, discovered that Some alteration in the method of government would have to be made if the camp was to be continued on regulation lines. It appears that Gaoler Murphy was in charge of the camp tor some time, and while he occupied that position he was assisted by three warders and two men connected with the Forestry Department. The work was therefore always under the supervision of two heads —the Justice Department and the Forestry Department. Murphy, it is stated, was not a strict disciplinarian, and, therefore, the management of the camp devolved into a very happy-go-lucky sort of style. Naturally under this regime everyone was perfectly satisfied, and as one gentleman described it to ,a pressman, it was more like a picnic than anything else. Recently Murphy’s health became so bad that he was forced to apply for leave. The Department granted his request, and placed Gaoler Bowling, the present governor of the camp, in charge. Warder Carlyon was at this time clerk in the office. Bowling immediately saw that the camp, previous to his arrival,had not been run on strictly orthodox lines, and he immediately set to work to straighten out matters. Warders, during Murphy’s governorship, were with the permission of Colonel Hume, allowed to let prisoners play football and cricket on certain occasions. Carlyon used to participate in the games. This Bowling objected to. He later removed Carlyon to a position in charge of a gang. According to Carlyon, as they were short-handed it was arranged that Bowling should take his turn in locking up at night and unlocking in the morning. When the time arrived for Bowling to carry out his part of the contract, Bowling refused, and ordered Carlyon to do the work. Carlyon thereupon refused, and Bowling suspended him for refusing duty. Carlyon immediately communicated with Wellington, and asked for an enquiry, which Mr Bishop, S.M., held on Wednesday. During the enquiry, which was of a departmental nature, it was stated that Leask, assistant forester, was also charged with refusing duty on a certain Saturday and Sunday. He explained that Mr Curie, chief forester, was away on a Jholiday, and had given him instructions prior to his departure, that he was not to take instructions from the prison authorities. Consequently he refused to do what Bowling told him to do. The matter will be referred to headquarters by the commission of enquiry. Leask was further charged with maliciously destroying six cords of firewood on the prison plantation. He stated in regard to this that only leaves and small branches were cut off and burned, and the remainder of the wood was carted into the camp. Carlyon was charged with falsifying books, with mixing with the prisoners too freely, playing football, etc., and being incompetent as a warder, and refusing duty. He admitted that he had been a barman prior to his appointment to the camp at Hanmer ; he had never been in a first-class prison before, but he ha.l served in the Imperial Army for two years. He said he had played football with the prisoners on a Saturday afternoon, the prisoners’ half holiday. These games were played with the permission of Colonel Hume. He denied having falsified the books, and stated that they were all right when he left them. He asked that they should be examined. The report of the commission has to be made to the Government, and nothing is yet known as to the nature of the recommendations made. It is understood, however, that Carlyon handed in his resignation at the close of the proceedings, and various changes will probably be made as a result of the enquiry.