PRISONERS' PATRIOTISM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 7

PRISONERS' PATRIOTISM.

GOOD WORK IN BRITISH GAOLS. I The patriotism of the convict in com- ! peting with Sister Susie in making i things for the army is one of the most curious sidelights which this war has produced, says the London correspondent of tho "New York Herald.'' The most enthusiastic social reformer could hardly have believed it possible that men and women s'erving terms of imprisonment would be so stimulated as willing to work long l.eurs and sho.v a vigour which has resulted in turning out millions of war articles. ! The Commissioners of Prisons in ! their annual report say that there is ! justification for the opinion expressed I by one of tho chaplains in a large con- | vict prison that if those people who are disposed to grudge the use of public money to reform criminals had been working among convicts at the present time tliev would find good cause to re consider their opinion. " lb would," says the chaplain, " convince them beyond a doubt that under these broad arrowed garments there beats many a heart still responsive to the sentiments of loyalty and patriotism." Durmg tihe twfenty montlis ended March 31, 1916, orders were placed with the commissioners for nearly seven and a half million articles for army and t;avy use. The supplies during that period reached a total of 5,181,517, which were produced by a staff of prisoners averaging SCGO a day. It will always stand to the credit' <->f the Department, says tho report, that these results have been achieved in face of a rapid ar-.d unprecedented fall in the prison poulation. Tliev have been made possible by an extension of the Hours of labour, emergency regulations calculated to increase the individual output, by the untiring zeal of officers and and by the keen desire of the prisoners to do their utmost. This keenness has been notic'eable imong the female prisoners at Holloway, and it is evidence of .the good quality of the work turned out that not a siuglo mail bag out of 95.000 supplied was rejected by the postal authorities. Reports of the excellent spirit prevailing among prisoners come from nearly all prisons. Their interest is stimulated by the weekly statement made of the progress of the war. At a large London prison there was an increase of manufacturing output, although the numbers n-nnitted were not half t-hos'e of any previous year. Tho good feeling among the prisoners, willingness to refrain from giving trouble, working longer hours without a murmur, is declared by the prison inspectors to be all duo to patriotic instincts.