PRISONERS' PARADISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13031, 23 November 1905, Page 5

PRISONERS' PARADISE.

LIFE AT WAIOTAPU CAMP. .v. -;•.; >-'• .;;;■ V"*:.-:/ •"•-.",,, . 1 —- ; v£<'{ t " >■-{■:•. \" ; -> : :-.'y DESCRIBED BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE. [BY TELKGEAPH.—OWN CORRIiSI'OXDSXT.J „ Chrisxchcrch, Wednesday. Live in (he Waiotapu prison . camp is described in an article in the Press, written by one who has, so he says, been an unfortunate compulsory inmate. The impression left by the article is that the prisoners are a, great deal better oil" than. those in the gaols. They live in . huts, • containing four each, and are unlocked at half-past six in the morning, have breakfast a-quarter of an hour later, and set off to work clearing the ground or planting trees at half-past seven. At ten there is a " smoke ho," and lunch, consisting; of tea and bread, is taken at noon, when there is .an hour's interval. The men get back to camp for dinner at five in the summer., and four in the winter. From dinner time until half-past seven, continues the writer, the men aio practically free, being allowed to walk about the camp grounds or occupy their time as they please. Some indulge in swimming, some in reading, while others will < take a stroll together, or meet in 011.0 of the huts, and have singing, etc. The men are allowed to have musical instruments sent to them, and j at times a very good evening's amusement is provided, some of the men beiug players of no:mean order. At lialf-past sever the men return to their respective huts, and the key is turned -on them for tile night. . On Saturdays the men return to the camp at twelve o'clock, and the. afternoon is spent by them in various ways. The occupants :of each hut generally appoint one of their number to clean up the hut. some go out collecting firewood, while others will be found decorating the inside of their huts with pictures and knick-knacks, to ; give them as homely an - appearance as possible. By the time tea is ready the camp and the men, with their usual change of clean clothing, present quite a, neat : and tidy appearance. Of course, no work is done 011 Sundays. All the huts are unlocked as usual-for the day, and occasionally Divine service is .held. In the afternoon ■ those who are entitled to write to their relations or friends are allowed to do so. As far as the work performed by the men is concerned, some of them certainly deserve, great cred't. Some men work day after day as if they were being paid the highest rate of wages, although 110 one is expected to do work equal in quantity to what, a paid man would do. Still a fair day's work is looked for, and it is amazing the amount of work some of the men do on the, food they get. At times some of the men are called before the gaoler to give a reason for the small amount of work done, but, as a rule, the punishment is nothing more than the stoppage of a week's allowance of tobacco or a caution. Some of the excuses at times given for insufficient- work done are very amusing. . One of the men, on being ■ asked by the gaoler how it was that lie had done so little work, replied that, the wind was against him, and then some days later he was again confronted with the' same question. The gaoler pointed out that there was no wind against him this time. "No," replied the man, " but I did-not have the wind with me."