STRIKE IN PRISON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13716, 5 October 1908, Page 7

STRIKE IN PRISON.

COMIC UPKKA .SCKXK. Tlie leceiir. mutiny at lUom prison, Kniiice, which ended by the offenders he iug starved into submission, had an amusing origin. A few weeks ago the trade anion of the convicts who were engaged in boot making held a meeting ami ueeided thai this lloverninent rate of rcmmiElation i\:i« much too JoW. They sent a xinmgly worded ultimatum to Iho gover not o! th-' prison thiough the thiol warder. They not only asked for an mime.liate inci.-.ir«.- in the rate of pay but also declared thai if the then existing pleasant relations between the oflicials and their charges were to continue no additional prisoners mu»t bo sent to the boot niak er's shop. They were cai.-ful to explain, in the course .)f a carefully worded mem oratidum, that the advent of exlla hands would mean the lowering of the aveiage iludy earning-.

The. governor tmn-d a deaf ear to the complaint, uhereupon the trade union transmitted, thiough the proper channel.

a dvuiau.l for .an interview Willi the ni.-liib-r oi the labim-t «ho Jiappened at lU- inomeii! to Ik- at Kioin. or, failing him. the pici'e.-i of the department.

The governor this time look up :i ion dilatory attitude, and explained that the Minister and the prefect were too busy with civic junker ting at the moment, but no doubt they would attend to th- pri-oii.-iV appeal later oil. The in.ilci.nteii'.-. ucie appe.i-eil. bill, tinfortuiial-ly lor rhe pe.-ic- of the c-t..hl;shii>.nt. next ninrnilij .in unexpected bar eh of prisoner." amvi-.! from Nunc-. «iier.- they had p.trtU ipat. ■' in .1 little inn'my of their own. TIo-m. :ieu ainval- w-re drafted In:.. :h- b<x.tm:ik< i'» shop at Itioni. Tliat «.>* 1)10 la* -.'law. 'I he ir.01.. union held a iniiii. d.'y ..ill-! r tins.:, and d-clded ,jp on a st i ike .it on. e. Seizing their |..0!«, iliey llislird 'oW.lldl* She gliVrfliOJ'» iplal !-t*. ■-in :,.:••.J 1..:n to hv. !-.-e n ifh ii.',n r ;

broken faith with them,. and called him a traitor and a swindler. The good man sought to pacify them, but, rinding .protestations and entreaties in vain, lie beat .i vettvat with his staff. The other eonviete, in the -meantime, had joined the mutineers, and between them they took possession of two-thirds of the prison building. For two days rhey remained, defying the authorities, .surrendering only when hunger had mastered them. There has been an all-round increase of sentences, which, as ihey are careful to point out, will eventually bring its own reward in the shape us extra, pay to be earned.