A GRAVE SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8085, 16 April 1906, Page 2

A GRAVE SCANDAL.

TRANSPORTATION OF PRISONERS. CONVICTS GO THROUGH A SHIP. JUSTICE DAPARTMENT MALADMINISTRATION.

' One of tlic most glaring and scandi lous demonstrations of Governinen Departmental ineptitude aud bunglin| brought to liglit for some time past occurred within the past few days. Oi Wednesday, a batch of ten prisoners some of them serving long sentences who were being transferred to th troe-planting "picnic" plantations i: the therm ;il district, were shipped 01 the Tnk.ijMna at Wellington fo Ancklnml via New Plymouth. On warder wi; sent in charge of the eon signment, who were dressed in civiliai clothes, and allowed their freedom t roam the ship. Several of the prison crs were well dressed, and might hav boeu ordinary Easter holiday-maker for all the uninitiated could tell to tin contrary. It is stated that the solitar; wardor sent in charge was new to th men, a most unusual proceeding. Th inevitable happened, of course. Tin prisoners practically took charge o the ship, penetrating the vessel's hold stewards' cabins, and first saloon everywhere leaving some evidence o their expertness at burglary. Passcn gers' or olKcers' luggage was overhauls and it is also stated that cargo wa broached. So hot did it become, any how, that the Captain of the vessel on arriving at New Plymouth 01 Thursday, absolutely refused to tak the prisoners any further. They wen accordingly landed and accommoda tion was fouud for them in Nev Plymouth gaol. It was decided t< forward them on by the Sarawa 01 Saturday night, and they were sent t the breakwater on the mail train. Th ringleader on the trip up, however, wa left behind m the local gaol. Arrivei at the steamer, the Captain was onl; persuaded, with difficulty, to undortak the responsibility of carrying sucl passengers, especially as the ship wa crowded with holiday-trippers. It wa; impossible to put them in the hold where they would assuredly have rui riot through the cargo. Eventually they were lodged in the fore-cabin their manacles were removed, and the} were free to roam the ship. Despite the fact that there was trouble aboard tho Takapuna, the same warder was sent, single-handed, to guard hit charges aboard the Karawa. The matter is ono that calls for immediate investigation. In the first place, there can be no possible justifl nation for despatching prisoners during i holiday season, when the boats are jrowdod. The person responsible for fending ono warder in charge of such i batch of convicts has demonstrated liis unfitness for the office he holds. The system that allows convicts absolute freedom to mix with unsuspecting xavollcrs is scandalous, and the sooner t is ended, and assurance given to that jffect, the sooner will the apprehension iroused by these disclosures bo allayed. How the prisoners and passengers fared m Saturday night we have not had jpportunity of learning, but if there »verc not "high jinks ' aboard the Rarawa, we shall be surprised.