Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA: 1910 - 1924), Monday 25 February 1918, page 4 MORE “CLEAN UP” SHOCKING CONDITIONS AT GLADSTONE GAOL REFORM NECESSARY There will be many matters for the new Parliament which will be elected at the “clean up” elections on April 6 to investigate and one seems to be first concerning the treatment of inmates of the state gaols. A correspondent, who evidently has some “inside” information, sets out a few facts which are sufficiently serious and important to demand immediate attention. He writes:- On behalf of the prisoners in the north wing at Gladstone Gaol I wish to bring under the notice of Otto H. Schomburgk and the members of Parliament who are interested in prison reform the need for an immediate enquiry into the supervision of the above gaol in the hope that there may be a change and that the sheriff may receive instructions to advise the person in charge that it is for reclamation purposes and not for vengeance that gaols were supposed to be built and prisoners placed therein. -A SCANDAL- In the first place it seems to be as an unwritten with the warders to take good conduct marks from prisoners apparently to show their vigilance and keep in with the governor. One prisoner was sentenced to 12 months further imprisonment for a trivial matter. Tried inside the prison and sentenced inside without the opportunity of defending the case as alleged justice demands. -A CASE OF SYPHILLIS- An unfortunate man is now there who is suffering from syphilis. He is in a very bad way and asked for an independent examination, as he was not satisfied with the treatment he was getting from the gaol doctor. He was informed that if he paid for another doctor he would be allowed admission to examine him. This man has fought for his King and country and is surely entitled to hospital treatment. He is with the other prisoners and although some precautions are taken to guard other prisoners from infection that are not sufficient. For instance, he was sent into the bath with another man. The other ma objected, but recognised if he said too much about the matter it meant seven days solitary confinement. -UNCLEAN PRISONERS- Prisoners are sent out unclean and unkempt, clothes creased and wrinkled. They are not permitted to shave and of course are immediately recognised by the police and townspeople of Gladstone, as if they wore the broad arrow. One man went out with a large blue patch in a decent pair of brown trousers. The mice had eaten a hole in them and this is how they patched it. -GERM SOUP- There is an open bucket of water at the end of the corridor. All the dust and germs in the cell sweepings can find a safe lodgement in it. There is one pannikin to dip with and this germ broth is given to prisoners if they want a drink during the night. These are a few of the prisoner’s objections. They can be substantiated strongly, but prisoners understand from past experience that it is useless to expect redress from the present keeper. -POLITICAL SPEILERS- They all sincerely hope that the “clean up” in the State may be general and that when the political spielers are ousted from power the Labor Party will see that tyrants in high offices are also ousted and that the new men will understand how to interpret sympathetically the regulations and that brutality and callous treatment in gaols and prisons will be things of the past.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 09:08:13 +0000
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