GISBORNE’S PENTONVILLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3345, 11 October 1911, Page 9

GISBORNE’S PENTONVILLE.

A MODEL INSTITUTION. LIFE IN THE LOCAL GAOL. Although it Avould not stand- for a Pentonvillc, the Gisborne Police gaol is a model institution, and perhaps the oompletest of its kind in New Zealand. The new building has uoav been open a little over a month, and Gaoler C-has. Parker has had opportunity of getting things into running order. A “Gisborne Times” reporter yesterday paid a- visit to the gaol, and had an opportunity of discussing with the gaoler the Avorking of the institution. Mr. Parker has had: 35 years’ gaol experience in New Zealand, the greater portion of that time having been spent in the large prisons at Lyttelton and Dunedin, and he recognises that kindness should be the keynote- of the treatment of prisoners, especially those in for short sentences. This is carried out to a great extent in Gisborne, and the short sentenced ones cannot look back upon any unreasonable harshness while retained as the guests of His Majesty. In many respects the prisoner lives a life of comparative luxury in the Gisborne gaol, under conditions Avidely different to those in force in Mt. Eden, Auckland, or Lyttelton. For instance on being admitted every prisoner is required to take a bath, and a great number of. them stand badly in need 1 of it, but they have the- great prmlege of having it hot or cold, so that this can not be looked upon- as an imposition, even by the most reluctant. Once this initial baptism is over, the incarcerated individual sets to Avork to retrieve his position—if retrieve it he can —in society, and for this purpose has to- put on prison garb, consisting of Avhite oA T eralls, stamped Avith the Government arroAV. His OAvn clothing is kept aAvay for him, but he is given an opportunity of Avasliing and laundering this. As all the prisoners retained are short sentence men. ranging to a maximum of one month, no very arduous labors are set them. The usual “hard labor” is mainly taken up in cl earning the dozen cells, which are daily Avashed Out, cleaning the gaol yards, etc., and levelling off the three acres of property attached, preparatory to getting this down in grass. Another necessary work soon to be performed by prison labor is tire asphalting of the large exercise yard, and approaches to the building. At the present time there are only three male prisoners confined in the home on the beach, but this is an unusually small number. The men are placed under no undue restraint, and may be seen walking unguarded about the grounds. The regulations of the prison arouse the prisoner at 6.40 a.m. His breakfast is at 7 a.m., and from then until midday he is employed about the buildings, and similarly in the afternoon. He .returns to his cell a-t 6 o’clock, and is alloAved to read until 8 p.m., AA’hen lights are turned out for the night. In prison fare the inhabitant finds himself better provided for in Gisborne than in many other -gaols. ’Hie regulation ration is 28ozs. of bread, lib of potatoes, 12ozs meat, 2oz A r egetables, ltoz. sugar, -}oz of tea, soz of salt, and -*oz of soap, but this is greatly varied, the gaoler’s Avife doing all the cooking A library is gradually being accumulated on the premises, contributed by generous toAvnspeople. and this has proved a- boon to many a on© lacking his liberty. Taking it all in all the evildoer Avho has the misfortune to fall into the hands of the law in Gisborne has by no means a bad 1 time, proAuded be behaves himself. If not, stricter conditions are imposed. So far -but feAV, it is said, haA?© shoAvn any inclination to transgress in the gaol.