HAPPY-GO-LUCKY STYLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3190, 15 May 1909, Page 5

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY STYLE.

DISCIPLINE IN HANMER PRISON CAMP. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. . Discipline in Hanmer prison camp has for some time pist 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 tha camp for 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 thereofre always under the supervision of two heads—the Justice Depaitment 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 j clerk in the office. Bowling imme- | diately saw that the camp previous J to his arrival had not been run on j strictly orthodox lines, and he immediately set to work to straighten out matter?. Ward rs, during Mr ■ Murphy's governorship, were, with the permission of Colonel Hume, allowed tn let prisoners play football and cricket on certain o:c:;sions Carlyon ÜBid to participate in the games. This Bowling objected to. He later removed Carlyon to a posi- , tion in charge of a gai g. According j to Carlyon, as they wero shorthanded 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 cut his part of the contract, Bowling refused, and ordered Canyon !to do the work. Carlyon thereupon i 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 holiday, 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 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 ha had been a barman prior to his appointment to the camp at Hamner; ha had never been in a first-class prison before, but he had served in tha Imperial Army for two years. lie said he had played football with the prisoners on a Saturday after noon, the prisoners' half holiday. These games were played with the permission of Colonel Hume. He denied having falsified the books, and stated that they weie all right when he left them. He asked thai they should be examined The report of the commission lias to be made to the Government, and nothing is yet known as to the nature ■ of the recommendations made. It is understood, however, thai | Carlyon handed in his resignation al the close of tha proceedings, am various changes- will probably be made as a result of the enquiry.