HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 508, 15 May 1909, Page 6

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.

LIFE IN A PRISON CAMP. "MORE LIKE A MCNIC THAN ANYTHING ELSE." ' (BY tjeluguath—puess ASSOCIATION^ Christchurch, May 14. , c ° d'scipJino m Hanmer Prison Camp fhi^° r w° tlmo p . Mt a PParontly been any. th ug but exemplary, and a commission which inquired into matters , on Wednesday . (according to reliable information); discovered that some alteration iu the method of government, would have to bo made ,if tho <amp was to bo continued on ' regulation tines. It .appears that. Cooler .Murphy had been ■ m charge of tho camp for some time, and while ho occupied,that position, ho wal assisted by threo warders and two men connectod with the forestry Department. Tha work was therefore always under Bupervisiofl of two heads, the Justice Department-and the Forestry Department. Mr. Murphy, it is was not a strict disciplinarian, and . therefore tho management of tho 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 waa more like a picnic than> any thing clbo. Eocently Mr. Murphy's health became so bad that ho was forced to apply for leave. Tho IJepartment granted his request, and placed viaoler Bowling, the present governor of the camp, m charge. Warder Carlyon was at this timo clork in'tho office; Mr.. Bowling. immediately saw that" tho camp, previous to his arrival, bad not been . run on strictly orthodox lines, and he- at on<>o set to work to straighten oat matters., Warders, during Mr. Murphy's governorship, were, with tho permission of Colonel Hume, allowed to let prisoners play' football and cricket on certain occasions.' Mr. Carlyon used to participate in tho ■ games. Ihis Mr. Bowling objected to. Ho later removed Mr. Carlyon to a position in charge of a gang. According to Mr. Carlyon, as they wero short-handed, it was arranged that Mr. Bowling should take his turn .in loolung up at night, and unlocking, m morning. Whan tho timo arrived for Mr. Bowling to carry out his part of thocontract, he refused, and ordered Mr. CarIyon to do the work. ' Mr. Carlyon thereupon refused, and Mr. Bowling suspended him for • refusing duty. Mr. Carlyon immediately ' oommunicated with Wellington, and asked . which Mr. Bishop, S-M- hold on Wednesday. ' During the inquiry, which was of a Do. partmental mature, it was stated that Mr, Leask, assistant forester, was also charged with refusing duty on a certain , Satdrday and Sunday.; . Ho .explained that Mr. Curle, Chief l'orestor, was away on holiday, and. had given him _ instructions, prior to his do- ! partui'e, that. ho was. not to take instructions from- tho prison authorities. .Consequently ho refused.to do what Mr, Bowline told him to do. '. , a Ike matter will bo referred to headquarters by the Commission of Inquiry. .:: ' Mr. Leask was further, charged with maliciously destroying sis;, cords ; of. firewood on tho pnson plantation. Ho stated, in regard to this, that only leaves , and small branches .. were cut off, and burned, and tho remainder, or the wood was carted into camp.' Mr. Carlyon was charged with falsifying books, with mixing with prisoners too fre£ • vV playing football, etc., and being incom- » potent as .a warder, and refusing duty. -Ho admitted that he had been a barman prior tohis - appointment to the camp at Haxuner* He had never been in -a v first-class prison but he had served in. the" Imperial Army far, two years;, Ho said he had played football with".the prisoners 'on Saturday v afternoon, the prisoners' half-holiday. liiosQ. games were played /with • the * permission, of Colonel Hume. He denied falsifying books, ana stated that they'wero all right whefthe . left them. He asked that they should be examined. , , » i The report of the commission has to be , maao to the 1 and nothing is yet known as* to the nature of tho reconimcoda--1 tions made., thatMr. Carlyon.' handed in 'his!: resignation, at v ..i tho ; close: of' the ..proceedings, ■ and- Various •'••• changes, will-probably bo made as thoiroSult:, : . of. tho (inquiry. ; v; ...