Skilled Labor in Gaols.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4254, 19 August 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

Skilled Labor in Gaols.

The report of the Public Petitions Committee on the employment of skilled labor in gaols is as follows -.—These petitions are signed by all classes of working men, and therefore are entitled to consideration. The list of the petitioners comprises laborers, carpenters, carters, barmen, publicans, masons, printers, saddlers, etc. The petitioners were represented by a deputation of intelligent workmen, who were introduced by Mr Hutchison, M.H.8., also by Mr Bracken, M.H.E., who made a powerful appeal to the Committee in support of the prayer of the petitioners. On the examination of the members of the deputation it appeared that they were not all in accord as to the object to be attained, some obj^ting to youths being trained to skilled laror in gaols, others appeared to desire that the produce of work done in gaol should not be disposed of outside so as to cause com<

petition with free labor. Others thought that prison labor ought to be utilised in making ordinary ariicles of consumption, such as boots and shoes for general use in all Government departments, from a police man or volunteer to a member of the General Assembly, but that farming, flax dressing, sugar refining, and quarrying or dressing stone should be the general direc tion in which the Government sliould utilise prison labor, as interfering least with free labor. The Committee's report pointed out flax dressing and agricultural work was done by free labor, and the classes thus employed would also naturally object in having to compete with prison labor With respect to one of the new sources of employment suggested by the deputation in which prison labor could economically be employed, it was pointed out that a sugar refinery was about to be established in Auckland. It appeared clear each trade objected to any competition with the produce of prison labor, but had no objection to the prisoners being engaged in work for the gaol department only. That having carefully considered the subjectmatterof these petitions, and the special suggestions made by the deputation, the Committee are of opinion that the question is one which involves large consideration of public policy, which the House should deal with at the invitation of the Government. The Committee therefore recom-« mend the petition to the serious consideration of the Government, to take such action as may be deemed necessary in the interests of the colony generally.