In Wellington Prison.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 September 1911, Page 4

In Wellington Prison.

By WM. CORNISH, Junr.

tt Ti,r Wa ' s im Pnsoncd for throe weeks in Jrl.M. Prison at Wellington. The sentence was 21 days with hard labor. 1 erhaps you would like to learn a little about that institution. They tell us that forewarned is forearmed. On a certain fine Friday afternoon, as I was peacefully working at my trade, a pohccman came and told, mo that he had three weeks' employment for mc in the Government service. Was this grand opportunity t<s be slighted.? Decidedly not. I went with him and he conducted mc to the aristocratic portion of our Capital City, viz., The Jerrace. Arriving there, we proce?ded to a noble-looking structure of stone, namely, the Wellington Prison. After leaving mc in very good company in a small office, the constable kindly bade mc good-bye, which was a great relief, for his companionship was distasteful. An official then led mc to a small table, where we had a nice- homely chat, he asking mc questions, and I responding to the- best of my _ ability. Ido not think that the occasion warranted his inquisitiveness, but I said nothing at the time, for I put it down to his superior education. Next, the warder gave mc a change of clothing, which, although very kind of him, was quite unnecessary, for my own clothes would have suited mc. He insisted on taking my finger-prints, and, rather than cause a sensation, 1 submitted; his word seemed to carry more weight than mine up there. The next move of the "screw" was to show mc my • sleeping apartment, which was a cell 10ft x 9ft. This cell accommodates three prisoners, but the authorities let mc have it on my own, as I was not allowed to mix with any of the other men. This was the only difference between mine and an ordinary criminal's treatment. The furniture of the cells is very plain, the chief articles being a wooden stool and table. The meals, also, were of a very plain standard. A quart mug of tea, without milk, for breakfast and tea, is the only liquid supplied. Of course, there is plenty of cold water in the institution. . Sixteen ounces of peculiarlytasting bread has to last one 24 hours. I boLfve that I would not go too far in stating that the bread tasted sour. This completes the menu except ac regards dinner. Twelve ounces of potato and ten of meat, with a bit of carrot and turnip thrown in, is dinner. To vary the monotony, I suppose, on certain days the mea.t is called either "roast" or "boiled/ Should .you wish to ascertain, whether the meat was boiled or roasted, this was the proceeding: Look in your dinner dish, and if you see a lump of meat floating about in some greasy water, you can without any fear of contradiction, have no hesitation in assuming that the meat has been boiled. If, on the other hand, the meat is stranded in the bottom of the dish, one may affirm that the venison is roasted.' No excuse is needed for the cooking, for even the cooks themselves would admit that navvying was more in their line.

Passing from food, let mc touch upon other subjects. Five blankets, of very indifferent" quality and cleanliness, were allotted to mc. My work whilst in the Government service, consisted of the following: I was put in an evilsmelling room and was instructed; by the "screw" to take stock of diverse articles of prison apparel stored therein. The sniell of the place was enough to make a horse vomit. A large stock of condemned clothes was the cause of; this horrible stench. Old shirts, trousers, vests, stockings, pots and pans, and many other articles, all contributed to this foul odour.

I might say a few more things—how, for instance, they kept mc from my proper allowance of food for the first two weeks —but let this suffice.

What, with the food and confinement, I resolved not to stay over the three weeks, so I accordingly left at the end of that time. As I Avas leaving the warrdcr clerk presented mc with a shilling, no doubt for ray endurance. Although there is plenty of whitewash on the walls up there, all the deeds are not of that colour. I still stick to my principles, and, if necessary, will go to prison again rather than be a. tool of one of those capitalistic parasites in uniform.

Dear Worker, —How the insurance companies try to block the Government Fire Department. I signed a proposal with Nortliern Ass. Co., and when policy came to hand the following was shown: —"Note. —No other insurance is permitted with any company or mutual organisation operating directly in NewZealand which is not a member of the Council of Fire* Underwriters' Association of New Zealand." I objected to tho insertion of this, same not being on proposal form, and demanded return of premium or elimination of tho clause. The clause was eliminated. Verb sap. —Yours, J.B.H.