SKILLED LABOR IN GAOLS.

Westport Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1968, 20 January 1882, Page 3

SKILLED LABOR IN GAOLS.

Among some Parliamentary returns of last session, copies of which are only now coming to hand, is one called for by Mr Hutchison, showing the number of convicts in the gaols of the Colony employed at trades, and the various kinds of skilled and unskilled labor, such return being for the week ending 2Gth March, ISSI, the last week in the past financial year. Summarised, the return gives the following particulars :—Skilled artisans employed in prison repairs or new buildings, 25; unskilled laborers similarly employed, or at stonebreaking or local public works, (530 ; oakum picking, 11 ; shoemakers, making prison shoes, 13 ; tailors, making prison clothing, 14; carpenters, working on police buildings, 4 • working in the prison shops, 1 cooper, 1 hammock-maket, 1 painter, G printers, G assistant printers, 1 warder foreman printer), 1 machine stocking-knit-ter, and 1 tinsmith.—Total, 4GO. The value of their work, calculated at 4s per diem for skilled labor (except printing) and 3s for unskilled labor, amounted for the week to £396 14s 3d, and paymeut received from local bodies and other sources was £4l 16s 4d. In this amount is included £l3 15s 6d pavluciiu iui prißuug uunu cio Jjytteiton gaol,, the value of printing done during the week being £25 lis 3d, estimated on Government printer's valuation.