A—4

The majority of prisoners are employed on the prison farm at Tafaigata in the production of native food used as prison rations and of vegetables for the Government hospital at Apia, cutting of firewood for prison requirements, and planting of other crops such as manioc, bananas, bamboo, citrus fruits, ginger, &c., for which a local ■demand exists. The main food crops used for rations are bananas, taro, breadfruit, yams, and ta'amu. Prisoners are also engaged on the maintenance of all prison buildings and other general work as and when required on a farm of this nature. They are accordingly out in the open during working-hours in gangs under the charge of warders. Goodconduct prisoners at Vaimea are used for cleaning Government House grounds, the maintenance of sugar-cane plantations at Vaimea, collection of sugar-cane leaves for fale thatch-making, and vegetable-growing as at Tafaigata. The incorrigibles, who ■average about ten in number, are employed within a concrete-walled yard making fale thatch, bamboo baskets, and native sinnet. Other prisoners are employed outdoors under official supervision on the cleaning and care of Government buildings and grounds, and are housed at Vaimea Prison at night, except for four permanetly housed at the police-station. All prison gangs are under the supervision of warders, with the exception of those referred to in the preceding sentence. Prisoners receive no remuneration for their labour. Prisoners are not sent long distances or outside the Territory for confinement. In certain cases convicted persons are bound over to be of good behaviour for specified periods, while others are dealt with by being placed on probation for a definite period, during which time sentence is suspended. Hard labour only is provided for in a sentence of imprisonment. No prison legislation was passed during the year and no major changes or reforms were introduced during the year. Prisoners on admission to gaol are given a resume of the prison rules and regulations by the gaoler. Breaches are punished by withdrawal of privileges (permission to have two visitors every Sunday, writing letters to relatives), loss of good-conduct time, or punishment by confinement to light or dark cells on reduced diet for a certain number of days, seldom exceeding a week. The number of prisoners who require to be so punished is very small. Prisoners proving absolutely unamenable to discipline are housed in the cell block and work in the concrete-walled yard mentioned earlier. These prisoners see no visitors, no extra outside food is allowed apart from their prison rations, and they are not permitted to write letters. After a period of this treatment they generally become amenable to discipline and can then be released to work outdoors with the gangs on the prison properties. Escapees are dealt with by the High Court, which, if the case is proved, usually imposes sentence of a further term of imprisonment. The Governor-General of New Zealand may pardon a prisoner, or may remit any portion of a sentence of imprisonment or any portion of a fine, or may commute a sentence of death to one of imprisonment. The High Commissioner may exercise like powers of pardon or remission in the case of prisoners serving a term of less than one year. In cases where a term of one year or more is imposed, the High Commissioner may remit not more than one-fourth of the sentence if the conduct and industry of the offender have been satisfactory. Prisoners so released prior to the expiration of their full sentence are free to do as they please and to take up their normal civilian pursuits. The serving of a term of imprisonment makes no real difference to the future life of the Samoan, as imprisonment in the Territory does not carry the derogatory stigma that it does in most European countries. There is a system of release on probationary licence of those sentenced to life imprisonment. After about fifteen years of the sentence has been served, the prisoner's conduct and case is reviewed by the Chief Judge, the High Commissioner, and the Governor-General of New Zealand ; if it is found that his conduct and industry in prison

41