Fair Play INTERVIEWS.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 17, 24 February 1894, Page 6

Fair Play INTERVIEWS.

Mr. Garvey, whose portrait appears above, is a native of Ireland, and was for some time a member of the Boyal Irish Constabulary force. He came to New Zealand in 1875. About a month after his arrival he was appointed clerk to the prison in Canterbury, which position he held for some time. About 1881 ho came to the conclusion that there was but little chance for promotion from the position he then held; so with that view he accepted the position of senior warder, which he retained for six months. In 1882 he was transferred to the Mount Cook gaol as chief warder-in-charge, and remained there until 1884, when he was appointed gaoler of Mount Cook prison, and in 1885 he was made governor of the Terrace gaol, with supervision of the prisoners at Mount Cook. Since the Act was passed he has been appointed Probation Officer. In appearance Mr. Garvey is strongly-built, with bright piercing eyes, that seem to sum you up at a glance. To his friends his manner is genial and courteous to a degree, while, with the prisoners, he has the

reputation of being a strict disciplinarian, but never unjust nor cruel. There is a faint touch, of the brogue in his speech, and an earnestness of manner in his conversation that his listener is at once impressed with. Mr. Garvey is 42 years of age, and is probably one of the youngest men in the service holding a similar office, When our representative called upon him he was walking amongst the flowers in the little plat just in front of the gaol. He immediately invited the representative inside with the remark, “ You are to do the interviewing to-day, I believe, Mr. ‘ Fair Playas a rule, it is I who question my visitors - ” “ Yes,” was the reply, “ we are to a certain extent reversing the usual custom, but I shall not be a very stern inquisitor.” “ Supposing, Mr. ‘ Fair Play,’ we take a look about the premises first; you can get a better general idea of the gaol in that way, than by asking me to describe it to you. After we have gone through tlic gaol we can come back to my office and finish our conversation.” “ Yes, that will perhaps-be the best way,” was the reply, and we followed the Governor out into the corridor. One thing struck the reporter first, that was, the atmosphere of keys, locks and bolts, he seemed to be moving in. Every door including Mr. Garvey’s own private office wars at once locked on passing through its portals, and even if we were immediately proceeded by a warder, he locked the door behind him and ou r guide had to unlock it agaiu. The lirst place we visited was the store room, which w r as divided into turn compartments, one for the storage of prisoner’s clothes and effects and the other for thc wearing apparel, etc., made, and used in the gaol. “ What is the system pursued with reference to the prisoner’s effects on the entrance into the the gaol, Mr. Garvey ?” queried the reporter. “ Their effects are put in a packet , labelled,and placed where they can be easily turned up at any time, a list of the articles is entered in a book provided for that purpose, and on the prisoner’s term expiring everything is returned to him. His clothes are thoroughly cleaned and packed in a sack, which is stored in this room; you will see piles of these sacks stowed away on the shelves about you.” “ But supposing a man comes clothed in rags unfit for wear, how is he treated on discharge ?” “We provide him with a decent suit of clothes, strong boots, sooks and underclothing, and a small amount of money.” “ But touching the clothing you give out, is it all of the same material “No, not now, although that was formerly the case. With the aid of Colonel Hume, who is always most earnest in his efforts to bring about any needed reform, we had the alteration made. Previously the suits were all of the same texture, and an expiree could at once be recognised as a gaol-bird by his clothing wherever he went, at least for the first few weeks. He wore the prison brand, and as you may well imagine was viewed with general suspicion.” “A very humane alteration, too. I see the general tone of your opinion is that a prison should be a reformatory in the truest sense, and that a practical attention to the meanest detail is an absolute necessity.” “ Yes, that has been the system I have worked upon, and I will explain it more fully as we get further on.” “ You w\ere speaking of the goods manufactured in the

prison, Mr. Garvey ; do the prison-made goods here go into the market'?” “ With very few exceptions, no. "Wo make tho clothing, boots, etc. here, which are needed for our own use, but these articles are never placed on the market in competition with tho trade. In the first place I don’t believe in allowing' convict labour as a rule to compete with tradesmen, and in tho second place we could not compete with the crude materials which are made up hero, with the outside market except in one or two minor products. The tin ware that is used in the gaol is made here and for all the gaols of the colony. “ What is your opinion of teaching a trade in prison ?” •* It is all very well while tho convict is serving his term, lmt it is seldom of much use to him after he is discharged.” “ How is that'? ” *• Well, the explanation is very simple. The work done here docs not give tho workman an opportunity of learning the tho liner branches of any trade. Ita tailoring or shoemaking for instance, only rough material is made up, and a man who had been working for from 12 months to two years at either of these trades would, upon his discharge, find it was impossible to hold his own with the average free tradesman. Hut before leaving tiie store room I must show you the ‘cat,’ ” continued our guide as he lifted one of those arliclos from a shelf where it lay with several others. “This is the regulation weight, length, and general size, as laid down by the law, which is very strict and concise on this subject.” “Do you have much flogging here ?” “ No; very little, lam glad to say. As a rule 1 am not in favour of hogging, except in extreme cases. There are some scoundrels whom it seems impossible to reach in any way except through their hides; hut with tho ordinary a criminal the lash is degrading.” “ Can a prisoner be flogged for an offence committed in gaol, provided you secure the consent of two .1 usticos ? ” “ No, that has been done away with, at lease in New Zealand, he is only Hogged when a sentence ordering it has been passed by a judge of the Supreme Court at his trial.” We passed from the storeroom into the dispensary, a commodious apartment fitted with chemicals of all sorts, medicines and surgical instruments. “This room,” said Mr. Garvey, “is where wc deal out our physic, the doctor calls twice a week, and treats such patients as are ailing during his visit.” “ But supposing medicine is wanted during the intervals of the doctor’s visit, how do you manage then ?” “ We have a smaller dispensing room in which a number of medicines ready for immediate use are kept; of course if the case requiring treatment is a serious one the doctor is at once sent for.” “Do any of the prisoners act in the capacity of dispensers ?” “No, but some years ago in another prison I know of one or two of them getting into the room and acting as voluntary chemists ; the mischievous rascals changed the labels on all t.he bottles, and it was some little time before the trick was discovered. During that time one man suffering from rheumatism took several bottles of cough mixture for it, but,” added Mr. Garvey with a smile, “ it seemed to do him just as much good.” “ Do you have many patients on your sick list ? ” “ As a rule, very few, except for petty troubles like toothache, a small sprain or something of that sort. At present our hospital is quite empty and I am using it for another purpose, if you will just step this way I will show you the room.” Mr. Garvey conducted us to a clean room} 7 apartment furnished with some eight or ten neatly made up cots, and with a fire place in one corner. “ This,” he said, “is where we house those who are on the sick list; at present, as I stated before we have none, so I am using it as a dormitory for some of the old fellows who need a little careful treatment; of course admission to this room is only obtained by good conduct and any breach of the rules while here entails removal to the ordinary coll and no chance of reinstatement. At times in very cold weather they get a little fire before turning in ; of course this indulgence

is not included in tho prison regulations, but as il is not prohibited and tho matter is left to my discretion, I adopted it as an experiment, and I find it works very well,, and now if you will follow me we will visit the bathrooms, and thon tho kitchens and chapel.” Tho baths wero provided with hot and cold water, and woro like every other portion of the prison models of ncatnoss and cleanliness. “ What is tho system of physical treatment when a prisoner enters the gaol,” asked the reporter. “He is weighed, his height measured, and a description of tho marks on his body taken, as well as tho colour of his oyos, hair, complexion, «!cc. AH these particulars aro sot down in a book provided for that purpose. Ho is thoroughly bathed next, and then provided with the regulation costume.” “ I suppose you have some pretty tough subjects as far as personal cleanliness is concerned that pass through your hands.” “ Ves, I must say wo have some of thorn who give tho impression that they have never been washod since tho day of their birth. We have had men brought hero who woro literally eaten up with vermin, tho parasites having actually got underneath the skin, and it was only after two or throe (lays continuous washing that wo could got thorn into anything like a cleanly state.” “ What is the usual regime pursued with reference to hours, bathing, meals, i.'tc.” “The men get a hath every week, and as for their hours and cell accommodations, hero is a specimen of tho latter,” said tho Governor conducting us into one of tho empty colls near at hand. “ Yon will sec that each cell is provided with a hammock, blankets and pillow, a dish, pannikin and tin knife and wooden spoon. Kverything here in tho shape of furniture is manufactured in the gaol. The light is provided by a small lamp which rests on a sm til wooden frame. It is filled with just sufficient oil to last a curtain time. Tho men rise at half-past five and are locked up again at half-past six and half-past seven according to lire season. “Are the men allowed reading matter?” “ Yes, each cell is furnished with a bible and hymn book, and if the men aro good-conduct men they can procure books from tho library.” “ What sort of a library have you got ? Doos it includo works of fiction ? ” “ Yes, but only by standard writors such as Dickons, Thackeray, and Scott ; of course we rigidly exclude the yellowback school of literature.” “ What i,3 the system pursued with men unabio toreador writo ? ” “ We have a system of education which we pursue in such cases and every facility is afforded to those desirous of learning. They are provided with slates and poncils and also with copy books. Many take advantage of the opportunity and make considerable progress while imprisoned.” “ How are tho meals served ?” “ In the cells, as wo find that plan works in every way much bettor. When I first came hero it; was tho custom for the prisoners to mess at a common table, and the result was anything but satisfactory. Despite tho strictest supervision, the table became a depot for vile language, the circulation of bawdy stories, and the maturing of plans for future crimes after the discharge of the criminals. I laid the matter before Col. Hume, and, with his assistance, was enabled to abolish the custom, and have the men’s meals served in their colls. Under the old regime, the hardened and abandoned criminal was in constant daily association with the man for whose reformation there was hope; and, as you can easily imagine, the result was anything but encouraging. There has been a distinct improvement in the moraU of the prison ever since the alteration has been made." “ Is each one of tho prisoners confined in a cell by himself?” ~ “Unfortunately no, as at present wo have not sufficient

accommodation for them all, As far as possible we adhere to the solitary system, but in several cases we have been obliged to put three togethex. For obvious reasons it would be inadvisable to put two alone together.” “ What is the type of food provided ?” “If you will follow me into the kitchen you can see for yourself as well as I can describe it to you.” The reporter followed Mr. Garvey into a roomy kitchen where every culinary article was polished up enough to serve as a mirror, the bread which was piled up on shelves was fresh and of the best quality, and the meat superior to the average boarding-house article. •‘Do the men get meat every day?” was the first question. “ Yes, they are served with three meals daily, and have meat for the midday meal. In the morning and evening respectively they are provided with a nourishing breakfast and supper, and in the middle of the day receive soup, meat and potatoes. Boiled mutton is served out one day and boiled beef the next. Some of the older good-conduct men in the special class haye their meat roasted all the men are served with a mug of tea, but without milk." “Is there any difference made in the routine on Sunday.” “Verylittle, there may occasionally be a slight change in the diet, but none worth mentioning. The men go to chapel in the morning and afternoon and have regular hours for exercise.” “ What are the nature of the religious services ? " “The Anglican service and the Roman Catholic service are both performed and meetings are at times held by the Salvation Army. With reference to the latter I must say they do a lot of good especially among the female prisoners.” “ Have you many of the latter here Mr. Garvey ? ” “ Quite a number, we have about 160 prisoners here, and at Point Halwell, about 20 per cent of Avhom are females, of course there are some of this number who are on remand and a few awaiting bail.” Mr. Garvey then led the way to the female department which is provided with a specially large exercise yard.” “ What are the women mostly employed at Mr. Garvey,” asked our representative. “At the lighter part of tailoring, seampstress work, mending, and in the laundry. As you will see we have a big washhouse, and as you can easily imagine there is plenty of work to be done there.” “ Wasn’t there formerly a separate entrance to the female prison ?” V Yes, but that has been changed. I only like one entrance to a prison, so I had the other entrance blocked up, and communication made between the two departments.” “ When prisoners are allowed visitors what is the system pursued ?" “ I have made some little alteration in the old style. Formerly a warder sat between the prisoner and the visitor, and they had to converse across a space of say 3or 4 feet; now we allow the prisoner to walk right up to the grating, and a warder stands a few feet away during the time allowed for the conversation.” “ Now, touching complaints, Mr. Garvey, what is the usual rule ?” “ Any prisoner who wishes to see me can do so on applying for the privilege, and every complaint made is thoroughly sifted.” “But are you not bothered very often with complaints that have no real foundation ?” “ Seldom more than once,” was the significant reply; “ the men soon understand that I intend looking into the matter thoroughly, and, after a first attempt, usually leave me alone.” “ Apropos of the different grades of criminals, what is your system of treating them ?” “ Well, if you will pardon the illustration, if a man like yourself were to come here, we would keep him as much apart from the ordinary criminal class as possible, and his good conduct would in all probability, procure him some little indulgences. But - don’t mistake me, and think that I have the slightest

leaning towards favouritism ; that is a thing to be particularly avoided in governing a gaol. Every man who comes here is to a certain extent, as a criminal, on an equality with his fellow-prisoners, but as there are degrees of crime, there are degrees of treatment of the criminal. My earnest desire is to make this prison a reformatory institution and not a training school for criminals, and to obtain that result I am bending every energy and adopting every means.” “ Have there been many hangings here?” “ Only seven since the gaol was built that I know of. The men’s bodies are buried just in front of the gaol where you see the little plat of flowers. "We have no regular ‘ drop ’ for executions here as in English gaols, but the gallows for New Zealand is kept here and erected or shipped when occasion requires.” “ Well, Mr. Garvey, I must thank you for a very entertaining description, which I am sure will be most acceptable to our readers.” “ You are quite welcome Mr. ‘ Fair Play,' and the best luck I can wish you is that you may never come here other than as friendly visitor upon myself.”