PRISON v. FREE LABOR.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2132, 3 November 1875, Page 2

PRISON v. FREE LABOR.

The following extract from tti» report of Mr Caldwell, Governor of the Dunedin Gaol, laid upon the table daring the last session of the Provincial' Council, will no doubt be read with interest .:-— ■ ' • FREE VEBSUS FOBCEB HBOB. Some discussion has lately, taken place, both in the press and official circles, in the Home country and in the Colonies, as to the advisability of employing prison labor on certain public works, it having been h*eld that competition with free labor should not be permitted. It is not, strictly speaking, within my province to discuss this subject here, but I maybe permitted to repeat what has been said once before, that; if prisoners who are now doomed to penal work were free and honest men, they would naturally compete for that same free labor which is now objected''to'; and that, therefore, at the- very outset no injustice can be done to voluntary enterprise by employment of prisoners, provided always that the Government stands in place of suppliers of all the prisoners' wants, and as such,? and also, as competitor, demands the full price for the men's labour. But, apart from this politico-economical aspect, the prisoners must work, and the more steady and remunerative their labour is, the better is the sentence of the law carried oufc. If .public works-are required, the cost of which to the Province amounts to many thousands of pounds, it is argued that such ought to be given to free honest labourers, r who would circulate " the medium with which their labour was^paid and, while improving their own position, also improve that of the community. 'I hose who reason thus forget that in most respects the position with regard to prison labour is analogous, for nearly all the expenses incurred on behalf of the prisoners are almost immediately made to circulate again, and find their way through various channels to the various' centres of business, and the difference is only that the profit,, which in the former case would fall to individuals as direct workers, is pfiw spread over producers, manufacturers, and vendors, whilst there is this absolute advantage, that as prison labour is produced at the very minimum of expense, the quantity of work for the money must be much greater, and the accrued profit fall to the Province. Besides, it should not be forgotten that idle men in prison coat just as much as working ones, and that the expense which now is made productive, would in a reverse case become an absolute loss; and furl her, that even under the most approved and remunerative system, it will be found that the whole amount of prison labour will have no more effect in lowering prices of free labour than the removal of a bucket of water has in loweriug tha level of the water in the bay. 'The submitted, and previous returns—together with daily experience—will prove to the really candid inquirer that forced labour can be made both profitable and useful, but it is much to be desired that such works should be found as will bear external evidence of their productive nature. Direct proofs of this, as well as of the positive though indirect benefits which prison labour in many cases produces to the free labourer, are by no means wanting, although they cannot be claimed or represented in so many pounds, shillings, and pence, an^not to go too far for exemplification, may be seen in the recent reclamation of a portion of the harbour, and the beach road to Hayward's Point, Port Chalmers. This done, what has been the consequence ? On ' the reclaimed land and Port Chalmers beach road buildings spring up right and left, and riot only aro the artisans who erect these thereby directly benefited in obtaining work which otherwise would have remained undone, but the surrounding land increases in value, and' the community profits by it thus far, that it advances another step to-" wards legitimate and permanent settlement. The same result has to some extent already been obtained, and will in course of time be more and more manifest on the complete removal of Bell-kill, and several , other works now in progress, most of which probably never would have been attempted bj private enterprise. When it is considered that every shilling which is withdrawn from the pockets of the honest portion of the community to pay for the support of criminals, adds to the difficulty of their maintenance, and to the risk therefore of becotniflg"reckless and falling into crime themselves, the importance of economy in the management of our gaols becomes of great_ importance both in a moral and social point; of view. Fortunately it so happens that economy instead of being opposed to the principles and primary objects of prison^ discipline, is most essential to their attainment. The same industry and frugality which

keeps "down the expenses' 61 a gaol being among the most effectual means of rendering the gaol deterring and of reforming the offender; and "useful and productive labour," which is pronounced to be " the main element of any. sound reformatory system," is not only an opinion in which every writer of eminence concurs, but a maxim which eventually will be the very first in practical prison management. The reformation of men can never be merely a mechanical process. It is only by moral influence that the better elements can bo restored if they ever existed, or created if they had no existence before ; but the basis of all good systems of discipline must, in my opinion, be worksteady, aptive, honourable work. It is by work alone that the great mass of mankind can honestly live ; and unless prisoners acquire hat Jits of industry, and a liking for some kind of labour, little hope of improved conduct can be entertained at their liberation. —Otago Guardian.